President of Georgia
The president of Georgia (Georgian: საქართველოს პრეზიდენტი, romanized: sakartvelos p'rezident'i) is the ceremonial head of state of Georgia as well as the commander-in-chief of the Defense Forces. The constitution defines the presidential office as "the guarantor of the country's unity and national independence."
| President of Georgia საქართველოს პრეზიდენტი | |
|---|---|
| Office of the President of Georgia Head of State of Georgia | |
| Residence | Orbeliani Palace |
| Appointer | Direct popular vote:
|
| Term length | Effective 1991:
|
| Constituting instrument | Constitution of Georgia |
| Inaugural holder | Zviad Gamsakhurdia |
| Formation | 14 April 1991 |
| Deputy | Chairperson of the Parliament |
| Salary | 13,000 GEL per month |
| Website | Official website |
| Georgia portal |
The president is largely a figurehead as in many parliamentary democracies. Executive power is vested in the Government and the prime minister. The office was first introduced by the Supreme Council of the Republic of Georgia on 14 April 1991, five days after Georgia's declaration of independence from the Soviet Union. The president serves a five-year term.
The current president is Salome Zourabichvili. Because of Georgia's transition to a fully parliamentary system she is the last president to be elected directly by the citizens.