Former Manchester City player poised to become Georgia next president

Mikheil Kavelashvili, a former striker for Manchester City and Georgia’s national football team, is on track to assume the presidency in Georgia after being nominated by the ruling Georgian Dream party.

The 53-year-old is widely expected to secure the largely ceremonial role, given the party’s dominance in the 300-seat electoral college responsible for electing the president.

The Georgian Dream party’s victory in last month’s parliamentary elections, however, has been marred by allegations of irregularities.

European election observers reported instances of bribery, double voting, and physical violence, sparking widespread protests and an opposition boycott of parliament.

Kavelashvili’s rise to prominence began on the football field, where he played for Manchester City during the 1995-96 season and later featured in the Swiss Super League. Transitioning to politics, he was elected to parliament in 2016 under the Georgian Dream banner.

In 2022, Kavelashvili co-founded the People’s Power movement, a political faction known for its “strong anti-Western rhetoric.”

Though controversial, the movement aligns with the Georgian Dream party in parliament, further solidifying his position as a favored candidate.