Election Day: Patriarch Ilia II votes, urges public to have their say
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Head of the Georgian Orthodox Church, Catholics Patriarch Ilia II has cast his vote and has appealed to all Georgian citizens to also have their say on who they want to run the country.
"I congratulate the whole Georgia on this day and I appeal to all, to the whole population, to participate in the elections and vote. God bless Georgia,” the Patriarch said.
Ilia II cast his ballot at the #4 polling station in Krtsanisi district, central Tbilisi. At this polling station 1,364 people were registered to vote.
Today the people of Georgia will vote to elect the 150-seat Parliament of Georgia, 77 members through party lists and 73 in the majoritarian districts.
19 political parties and 6 election blocs are also running in the race.
People will also vote to elect lawmakers in the 21-member Supreme Council of Adjara, Georgia’s western Autonomous Republic, in Resix election constituencies, as well as local authorities in some locations, as several local officials had to quit posts for their participation in the elections.
A short time ago Central Election Commission spokesperson Ana Mikeladze said voter turnout was 8.34 percent by 10am - two hours after polling stations opened throughout the country.
It's been four hours since polling stations opened and so far the environment is peaceful and orderly, says Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association, a leading local non-governmental organisation.
Several opposition leaders have already voted in Georgia’s Parliamentary Elections. Free Democrats leader, one of UNM's leaders and a Republican Party leader have cast their votes this morning.
Georgia’s Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili has cast his ballot in today's Parliamentary Elections and voted for Georgia’s "European future and fast economic development.”Kvirikashvili went on to say his choice promoted health and better education for the country’s youth.