NDI: 74% of Georgians undecided about vote in upcoming presidential elections
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When asked if they were decided about their vote if presidential elections were to be held tomorrow, 74 percent of respondents reported that they were not, the National Democratic Institute said today noting that this is the highest figure seen in their polls to date.
"Few could identify a party closest to them ideologically, with 18 per cent choosing the ruling party Georgian Dream (GD), the 10 per cent United National Movement (UNM), and three per cent the Labor Party. All other parties polled below three percent”, the NDI said.
"Given the perceptions about the country’s direction and the economy, it is not surprising that many citizens are unsatisfied with their political choices and are undecided about how to vote,” Laura Thornton, senior country director at the NDI, said.
A majority of those polled believe the opposition should unite around a single candidate and 41 percent of respondents agree with the statement that it would be better for the country if someone outside the ruling party wins the presidency, NDI polls showed.
With a presidential election approaching but an election date yet to be called, polls show that citizens are looking to hear candidates talk more about employment, healthcare and education.
Independent MP in the Georgian parliament Salome Zurabishvili, who holds both Georgian and French citizenship, has launched procedures to renounce French citizenship, the head of the Parliament’s Legal Committee Eka Beselia has confirmed.
Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze has stated that it would be better for the democracy of the country for the Georgian Dream party not to put forward a candidate in the upcoming presidential elections.
David Bakradze, the current leader of the parliamentary minority and former speaker of the Georgian parliament from 2008-2012, has been named as the presidential candidate of the European Georgia party today.
The opposition coalition "Civil Movement - Unity is Power" has presented United National Movement member Grigol Vashadze, ex-Foreign Affairs minister under the Saakashvili government during 2008-2012, as their presidential candidate for the upcoming elections.
Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili stated today that the presidential elections will be held on October 28.
Former Parliament Speaker of Georgia David Usupashvili has announced today that he will run for president.
Fourth President of Georgia Giorgi Margvelashvili has announced his decision not to run in the upcoming elections at a meeting with students and professors at the Presidential Palace in Tbilisi today.
Surveys released today by the US National Democratic Institute (NDI) reads that more Georgians support the country’s membership into NATO and the EU, with NATO at 78%, its highest approval since 2013, and the EU at 83%.