PM on presidential elections: we have received and understood the message sent by people
Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze has responded to the necessity of an election runoff. Photo: Prime Minister’s press office.
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Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze says that the government has received and understood the message sent by the people via the 28 October presidential elections.
We received a clear message about our mistakes from our people, as well as about the expectations they have towards us regarding concrete challenges, the challenges which bother them and their families. We have seen much from the elections, we have seen that many things need to be changed in the shortest terms,” Bakhtadze said.
Accordingly, for the second round we will act unanimously and will ensure the unity of our supporters, who due to different reasons, did not vote in the elections. After the second round we will together celebrate the victory of the values we are all fighting for,” Bakhtadze said.
Bakhtadze thanked local and international organisations, Georgian voters, the Georgian Dream ruling party supporters, the election administration and law enforcers for fulfilling their roles in the elections.
He also stated that holding high-level, European-style elections is a standard established by the Georgian Dream in the country.
Bakhtadze said that international observers also confirmed the conduct of democratic, free and transparent elections in Georgia.
The Central Election Commission of Georgia has counted 99 per cent of votes and the results show that the Georgian Dream supported candidate Salome Zurabishvili received 38.6 per cent of the vote and her opponent from the opposition Grigol Vashadze received 37.7 percent of the vote.
The outcome means that a runoff will be held.
The CEC has stated that the runoff must be held no later than 2 December.
The presidential candidate of ten opposition parties Grigol Vashadze, who came second in the presidential race based on the current data of the Central Election Commission, says that it is no time for euphoria as the second round of the elections is still ahead.
3,689 of a total of 3,705 polling stations have been counted: the ruling Georgian Dream party supported independent candidate Salome Zurabishvili received 38.6 per cent of the vote and the presidential candidate of ten opposition parties, Grigol Vashadze, received 37.7 per cent.
The Georgian Dream ruling party, the European Georgia opposition party and Rustavi 2 private broadcaster have released the results of exit polls they have conducted. The exit poll results were announced as soon as all polling stations in Georgia were closed at 8 pm.
The Organisation for Security and Co-Operation in Europe (OSCE) and its office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI) have released their preliminary assessments about the 28 October presidential elections in Georgia.
The Georgian Central Election Commission (CEC) has ended the counting process of votes for the 28 October presidential elections.The votes of all 3,705 polling stations have been counted and the results mean that a runoff will be held no later than 2 October between the top two candidates-Zurabishvili and Vashadze.
Imedi TV channel has announced they will operate in a way so as not to allow the ‘old regime’ [referring to Mikheil Saakshvili’s United National Movement] to return to power.
Independent presidential candidate supported by the Georgian Dream ruling party Salome Zurabishvili says she is ready for runoffs at a briefing today.
The number of Georgians who have registered at Georgian embassies and consulates abroad in order to vote during the presidential election has reached 1,400, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said today.
Former members of parliament and citizens of Batumi have founded a movement called Angry Batumelebi.
Ruling Georgian Dream party supported independent presidential candidate Salome Zurabishvili has visited the village of Atotsi, where Russia-controlled forces began the erection of new barbed wire fences on 7 November.
Heads of the EU and UNDP representations in Georgia have evaluated the election environment ahead of the presidential runoff and mentioned high competition, a democratic election process but that the election campaign period has included aggression.
Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze has stated at a briefing today that former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili met Russian interests when his party, the United National Movement, nominated Grigol Vashadze for president.
The inauguration ceremony of the fifth president of Georgia will be held on 16 December based on the Georgian Constitution.