In a plenary session, 80 out of 85 members voted in favor of this date, marking a shift in the electoral process. Unlike past elections, the next president will be selected not by direct popular vote, but through an electoral college composed of members of parliament and local government representatives, including those from the Supreme Councils of Adjara and Abkhazia.
Speaker Shalva Papuashvili emphasized that these changes come as the term of current President Salome Zurabishvili expires on December 16. Therefore, the elections must be held within the timeline established by Georgia’s Constitution. The inauguration of the new president is expected to take place on December 29.
This election marks a significant change in Georgia’s political landscape. President Zurabishvili, who was elected in 2018 through direct public voting for a six-year term, will complete her term this fall. The next president, elected by a 300-member electoral college, will serve a five-year term under constitutional amendments approved after the parliamentary elections held on October 26. These amendments represent a notable shift in how Georgia selects its president, transitioning away from direct popular voting in favor of a parliamentary-based electoral process.
