Both ruling party, united opposition celebrating victory in Tbilisi in municipal self-gov’t elections
The Gorbi exit polls commissioned by the TV channel Imedi predicts the victory for the GD while two other exit polls by Ipsos and Edison Research commissioned by opposition-minded TV channels Mtavari Arkhi and Formula TV claims that a second round of the local elections is inevitable. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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The ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party and the united opposition are celebrating victory in the local municipal elections based on exit polls commissioned by various TV channels and prior to the official announcement of the results.
The GD has addressed their supporters from the stage and congratulated them on the party’s victory.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili stated that ‘today’s victory’ belongs to the voters and supporters of the ruling team.
I would like to address our opponents - today we have completed polarisation in the country,” Garibashvili said.
He also congratulated the GD Tbilisi mayoral candidate and incumbent mayor Kakha Kaladze on winning the race.
Kaladze in his turn expressed gratitude to the population of Tbilisi, noting that the country needs ‘peace, calmness and stability.’
We have to wait for the final results of the Central Election Commission (CEC) which is very important but based on the results of the existing exit poll the GD is winning everywhere,” Kaladze stated.
The ruling party head Irakli Kobakhidze also addressed the supporters of the GD and thanked them. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
Tens of thousands of people were involved in the election campaign, in this preparation, and I am very glad that all of this was appreciated by each of us,” Kobakhidze noted.
The Gorbi exit polls commissioned by the TV channel Imedi predicts the victory for the GD while two other exit polls by Ipsos and Edison Research commissioned by opposition-minded TV channels Mtavari Arkhi and Formula TV claims that a second round of the local elections is inevitable.
The head of the largest opposition United National Movement (UNM) party Nika Melia stated that the ruling party ‘has completely lost the political centre - Tbilisi,’ noting that the City Council (Sakrebulo) will be staffed by opposition parties.
Of course there will be a second run off in the mayoral elections...The capital and the city council will be staffed by opposition parties,” Melia stated.
Leader of opposition party Girchi - More Freedom Zurab Japaridze stated that the opposition won in Tbilisi but noted that ‘in general the elections were not held in a free environment.’
Although the opposition won in the capital and this is very important, I do not believe that these elections were held in a free and competitive environment,” Japaridze said.
I suspect that in the exit poll results, people were afraid to say their real choice and I suspect that these results may even be in favour of the opposition,” he added.
Political party Droa leader Elene Khoshtaria also stated that ‘the coalition defeated the GD’ in Tbilisi.
Very soon Tbilisi will have a coalition government,” said Khishtaria.
A total of 3,743 polling stations have been established in 73 election constituencies in Georgia and overall 43 political parties have been registered for the municipal elections.