Ex-soccer player Mikheil Kavelashvili becomes Georgia's next president

Former soccer player Mikheil Kavelashvili on Saturday became the sixth president of Georgia. He was the only candidate on the ballot. 

Kavelashvili's victory gave the Georgian Dream party control of the 300-seat electoral college in the country, which in 2017 took the place of direct presidential elections. It is made up of members of parliament, regional legislatures and municipal councils.

The outgoing president is Salome Zourabichvili, who has been in office since 2018.

There have been some reports that her opposition party was inciting violence during the election, but Zourabichvili said that wasn't the case.

“We are not demanding a revolution,” Zourabichvili told The Associated Press. “We are asking for new elections, but in conditions that will ensure that the will of the people will not be misrepresented or stolen again.”

“Georgia has been always resisting Russian influence and will not accept having its vote stolen and its destiny stolen,” she added. Her opposition party calls this election a setback for the hopes of Georgia becoming part of the European Union, and a victory for Russia. 

She has vowed to stay on as president after her six-year term ends Monday, claiming to be the only legitimate leader until a new election is held, according to The AP.