New Georgian President Kavelashvili Inaugurated In Parliament

TBILISI, Dec 29 (Bernama-dpa) – Mikheil Kavelashvili was sworn in as Georgia's new president during a ceremony in parliament in Tbilisi, despite weeks of protests and his predecessor, Salome Zourabichvili, refusing to step aside, according to the German news agency dpa.

Kavelashvili, a 53-year-old former national footballer, took his oath on the bible and the Georgian constitution, swearing to serve the country's interests.

Zourabichvili told supporters that, while she was leaving the presidential palace, she was taking her legitimacy with her.

A pro-Western leader who backs Georgia's accession to the European Union, she has called for fresh elections, dismissing Kavelashvili's election by an electoral college on December 14.

"This parody, which is currently being played out in parliament, is a genuine parody that the country has not deserved," Zourabichvili said. Many of her supporters had hoped that she would stay on in the palace and continue to oppose Kavelashvili's inauguration to the largely ceremonial post.

-- BERNAMA-dpa