Ex-PM, opposition For Georgia party leader Gakharia to run for Tbilisi mayor

Former Georgian PM Giorgi Gakharia, who now leads the For Georgia opposition party, has announced today his plans of running for Tbilisi mayor. 

Gakharia said that three months after the establishment of the For Georgia party it has been the one and the only political party with an increasing rating in Georgia.

Because a citizen of Georgia is wise, fair… because it is clear that today Georgian citizens need a wiser, fairer… government”, Gakharia said, reiterating that “We do not fight against anybody”.

To fight is not the objective for us. Our goal is [to have] a fair, strong and modern country”, he added. 

Ex-PM who resigned in mid-February following a dispute with the ruling party said long ago when he joined the Georgian Dream party it was not an organisation, but “a union based on shared values”. 

It was a dream about a better, successful Georgia; it was a dream about a fair, conscientious environment”, Gakharia said. 

Unfortunately today, the leaders of the Georgian Dream organisation have forgotten these ideals and values”, he said. 

Gakharia said that it has no difference whether with its poor performance “the Georgian Dream organisation” would encourage the United National Movement party return to power or treat people the same way as the UNM did (while in power before 2012).

He said, this is why it is “dangerous for the Georgian citizens to be left alone facing these two forces”.

Today Gakharia also introduced his party’s proportional and majoritarian lists for Tbilisi City Assembly (Sakrebulo) and mayoral candidates in the regions.

The proportional list includes:

1. Levan Dolidze
2. Zaza Tavadze
3. Salome Kobaladze
4. Giorgi Sharashidze
5. Davit Partsvania
6. Tamar Khvedeliani
7. Ekaterine Vepkhvadze
8. Malkhaz Mchedlishvili
9. Giorgi Soselia
10. Tiko Tvaladze
11. Giorgi Kiknavelidze
12. Zaur Rekhviashvili
13. Ketevan Bakaradze
14. Vato Pachulia

The majoritarian candidates in Tbilisi are:

1. Samgori district – Kakhaber Kemoklidze
2. Gldani – Natia Mezvrishvili
3. Isani – Davit Gogidze
4. Krtsanisi  – Zurab Rekhviashvili
5. Mtatsminda – Vakhtang Gvazava
6. Vake – Merab Machavariani
7. Chughureti  – Rusudan Tevzadze
8. Didube – Giorgi Kajaia
9. Saburtalo  – Mikheil Nabijashvili
10. Nadzaladevi – Galaktion Gudushauri

The mayoral candidates in the regions are: 

1. Rustavi – Beka Liluashvili
2. Batumi – Irakli Mikeladze
3. Ozurgeti – Gia Tsetskhladze
4. Lanchkhuti – Elguja Kalandarishvili
5. Chokhatauri – Paata Berishvili
6. Kutaisi – Giorgi Goguadze
7. Kharagauli – Varlam Tavzarashvili
8. Zestaponi – Lasha Tskhadadze
9. Bagdati – Lado Vardzieli
10. Chiatura – Usup (Uta) Bitsadze
11. Tkibuli – Sandro Sakhvadze
12. Tskaltubo – Rusudan Silagadze
13. Telavi – Giga Orkodashvili
14. Kvareli – Giorgi Gigiloshvili
15. Mtskheta – Ana Buchukuri
16. Tianeti – Tamaz Iarajuli
17. Dusheti – Tengiz Zhamutashvili
18. Kazbegi – Giorgi Gomiashvili
19. Ambrolauri – Parnaoz Bakuradze
20. Oni – Imeda Meshvildishvili
21. Tsageri – Besarion Bendeliani
22. Lentekhi – Jamlat Gvidiani
23. Zugdidi – Gega Shengelia
24. Martvili – Lasha Lekishvili
25. Akhaltsikhe – Giorgi Arveladze
26. Gori – Konstantine Ananiashvili
27. Kareli – Vakhtang Gogichaishvili
28. Kaspi – Giorgi Bestavashvili
29. Khashuri – Zviad Tepnadze​​​​​
30. Abasha – Avtandil Bokuchava
31. Senaki – Giorgi Sichinava
32. Khobi – Badri Jobava
33. Tsalenjikha – Khvicha Mebonia
34. Chkhorotsku – Shengeli Jikia
35. Poti – Giorgi Apsaridze
36. Mestia – Malkhaz Udesiani
37. Batumi – Irakli Mikeladze

Georgia will have local self-government elections on October 2. 

Georgian Dream ruling party has named acting mayor Kakha Kaladze for the second tenure in mid-July. Nika Melia runs as the candidate for the united opposition, the party co-founder Ana Bibilashvili will run for Lelo, while Anna Dolidze - For the People party has nominated its founder Anna Dolidze as a candidate for Tbilisi mayor

Nigerian businessman Arinze Richard Ogbunuju is also running for Tbilisi mayor.