Mikhail Kavelashvili has been elected the sixth president of Georgia, Novosti-Georgia reports.

224 electors voted for him. Kavelashvili needed 200 votes - 2/3 of the full board - to win.

Kavelashvili was nominated by the ruling Georgian Dream and was the only candidate.

“As a member of parliament for three convocations, the ex-football player without higher education is remembered by the public, first of all, for his anti-Western statements, fights at meetings and use of foul language. Many citizens regarded his nomination as an insult to the institution of the president and the state as a whole,” the mass media wrote.

The elections were held against the backdrop of a protest rally on Rustaveli Avenue and under increased security measures. The opposition, which boycotted the work of parliament, did not participate in the elections and did not nominate candidates.

The president was elected for the first time not by direct popular vote, but through electors. The Collegium consists of 150 members of the Parliament of Georgia, 21 members of the Supreme Council of Adjara, 20 representatives of the Supreme Council of Abkhazia and 109 members of district sakrebulos (city councils). Georgian Dream completely filled the quota of sakrebulo with its representatives.

As a result, a total of 225 electors participated in the voting.

The sixth president of Georgia is elected for five years. The inauguration will take place on December 29.