Ex-PM Gakharia's party For Georgia distrusts exit polls

Opposition political party For Georgia founded by the former PM Giorgi Gakharia has declared that it does not trust the results of exit polls commissioned by various TV channels which granted the third place to the party. 

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For Georgia’s representative Ana Buchukuri has stated that the ‘results are not credible enough,’ noting that such results may be due to ‘political bias’ and intimidation of voters. 

There has been unprecedented systemic pressure and intimidation against our supporters for months...Secondly, different political parties are accustomed to using these exit polls for their own political interests,” Buchukuri stated. 

We will wait for the official results from the Central Election Commission (CEC),” she added. 

• Ex-PM, mayoral candidate Gakharia: 'these are elections between the past and the future'.

Giorgia Gakharia is running for Tbilisi mayor in local municipal elections. 

Based on the results of three TV channel’s commissioned exit polls For Georgia party receives from four to eight per cent of the vote. 

• Polling stations close: exit polls for Tbilisi mayoral race released

Gakharia resigned from the post of PM on February 18, 2021 due to a disagreement with the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party and soon after in late May launched the For Georgia political party. 

A total of 43 political parties are registered for the elections. 

Overall 1,815,767 voters participated in the local self-government elections today. 

• Both ruling party, united opposition celebrating victory in Tbilisi in municipal self-gov’t elections

Municipal elections are held in Georgia per a mixed electoral system. 

Voters have to fill three ballot papers: the first ballot paper is for mayoral candidates (which are elected per a 50+1 system. The winner is the candidate who will receive at least 51 per cent of votes, otherwise a second round of elections will be held). 

• More than 1.8 mln voters cast ballots in municipal elections

The second ballot paper is for majoritarian candidates in city assemblies (voters should circle a desired majoritarian candidate on the list). 

The third ballot paper is for parties - the more votes a party receives in the elections, more members it will have in city assemblies.