Mikheil Kavelashvili, 53, was chosen by a college of electors composed of MPs and representatives of local government.
It comes 17 days after the country was rocked by protests sparked by the government’s suspension of European Union accession talks, amid escalating tension over Georgia’s relationship with Russia.
Protesters hold EU and Georgian national flags during a demonstration in front of the parliament against the government’s decision to delay European Union membership talks amid a post-election crisis (Photo: Giorgi Arjevanidze/AFP)The result has been roundly questioned, with protesters draped in EU flags clamouring outside parliament for a fresh election after opposition groups alleged the recent poll was rigged with Russia’s help.
Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, Georgian Dream has tried to move closer to Russia, which ruled Georgia for 200 years until 1991.
Georgian player Mikhail Kavelashvili (L) fights for the ball in 1999 (Photo: Tor Richardsen/Scanpix/AFP)
Before entering politics, he was a striker for Manchester City between 1996 and 1997 and went on to play for a number of clubs in the Swiss Super League.
What has been the reaction to his appointment?
Kavelashvili’s appointment has been denounced as “illegitimate” by the four main opposition parties who have boycotted parliament in response.
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Read MoreAn author of Georgia’s constitution, Vakhtang Khmaladze, has said that all decisions by the new parliament are void.
Kavelashvili’s appointment was met by protests outside parliament on Saturday morning.
One woman, 40-year-old Natia Apkhazava, said she was demonstrating to “protect our European future”.
Law enforcement officers use a water cannon during a protest against the new government’s decision to suspend the European Union accession talks in Georgia (Photo: Irakli Gedenidze/Reuters)Another, Vezi Kokhodze, told Sky News the vote was “treason” against Georgians’ desire for a closer relationship with the West.
Protester Sandro Samkharadze said Kavelashvili “is controled by a puppet government, by [ex-prime minister] Bidzina Ivanishvili, by Putin.”
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