Tbilisi: President of Georgia Salome Zurabishvili has announced that she will not step down from her position despite the expiration of her mandate, citing the illegitimacy of the current parliament, APA reports.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, in a televised address, President Zurabishvili stated, “I remain your president; there is no legitimate parliament existing. Accordingly, the illegitimate parliament cannot elect the new president. Thus, inauguration will not take place. And my mandate continues until there is the legitimately elected president.” Her decision underscores a significant political standoff in Georgia, where the legitimacy of the parliamentary body is being called into question by the head of state.

This pronouncement by President Zurabishvili has sparked discussions about the political future of Georgia and the potential implications for governance and international relations. The situation remains tense as the parliament’s legitimacy is challenged, and the process of electing a n
ew president is put on hold. The current developments are being closely monitored both domestically and internationally.