Opposition leaders sign agreement ahead of election run-offs
Khoshtaria stated that the unification of political forces is crucial 'when the ruling party seeks to divide society.' Photo: Screenshot from video.
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Political movement Droa leader Elene Khoshtaria and leader of the opposition Lelo for Georgia party Mamuka Khazaradze have signed a coalition cooperation document earlier today ahead of municipal election run-offs slated for October 30.
The opposition leaders say they are creating the platform to ‘pull the country out of 30 years of one-party rule.’
Khazaradze called the coalition a ‘turning point.’
We [members of Droa and Lelo] have gathered to create a united front and a unified platform for all pro-Western forces to join us and create a pro-Western coalition government once and for all,” Khazaradze said.
Khoshtaria underlined the importance of the second round of municipal elections and stated that ‘we make choices for unity and diversity.’
Lelo received 2.71% of the vote while Droa garnered 0.61% in municipal elections in Georgia on October 2.
Mayoral election run-offs will be held on October 30 in 20 of 64 constituencies of Georgia, including the five largest cities: Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Rustavi, Batumi and Poti. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
Candidates of the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party and the largest opposition United National Movement (UNM) party will compete in 17 of the 20 election constituencies.
Based on the final results of the October 2 local self-government race the GD received 46.74% of the vote and won the majority of mayoral constituencies while the UNM received 30.68% and ex-PM Giorgi Gakharia’s For Georgia party gathered 7.79% of the vote.
International observers stated that the October 2 local elections were well-organised, however, characterised by ‘increased polarisation.’
A total of 1,024 foreign observers from 52 international organisations monitored the self-government election in Georgia.
MEPs will observe the municipal election run-offs as well, Chairwoman of the Georgian Parliament’s EU integration committee Maka Bochorishvili announced yesterday.
Chairwoman of the Georgian Parliament’s EU integration committee, Maka Bochorishvili, says MEPs will observe the municipal election run-offs in Georgia on October 30. Bochorishvili, from the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party, stated earlier today that MEPs are expecting the run-offs to proceed ‘according to international standards.’
Ruling party mayoral candidate and incumbent mayor Kakha Kaladze has called on all Georgian citizens to participate in the municipal election run-offs on October 30 and ‘to put an end’ to the opposition party United National Movement (UNM).
According to the final results of the first round in the race, the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party received 46.74 per cent of the vote, the United National Movement (UNM) opposition party received 30.68 per cent of the vote while ex-PM Giorgi Gakharia’s For Georgia party garnered 7.79 per cent of the vote.
The EU and US embassies have assessed the October 2 municipal elections in Georgia and stated that the race was generally well administered, but was characterised by ‘hardened polarisation.’ They agreed with the preliminary findings of the OSCE/ODIHR and said that the contestants were able to campaign freely in a competitive environment, and that the election day proceeded in an orderly and transparent manner.
The opposition United National Movement (UNM) claims that the government of Georgia is preparing a ‘special operation’ in the western Georgian region of Samegrelo to detain former policemen. Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has denied the UNM’s claims, calling them ‘pure lies’.
Election polls commissioned by the opposition-oriented TV channel Mtavari Arkhi says that the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) mayoral candidate and incumbent Kakha Kaladze will receive 51.6%, while Nika Melia from the United National Movement (UNM) will get 48.4% in municipal election run-offs in Tbilisi on October 30.
The second round of municipal elections will take place in Georgia tomorrow, including in all big cities of the country, amid a polarized political environment and continued rivalry between the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party and the main opposition, the United National Movement. The GD claims they will ‘finally defeat and end the UNM’ in the race, describing it ‘as an evil force’ which has been hampering development for 18 years, while the UNM still hopes the run-offs will lead to snap parliamentary elections ‘and the changing of the GD government.’
The opposition-minded Mtavari Arkhi TV channel, which commissioned election polls from the international research company Ipsos, has suspended its cooperation with the latter. Mtavari Arkhi’s general director, Nika Gvaramia, explained that Ipsos breached the contract by uploading pre-election results on its website which were different from the numbers they reported to Mtavari Arkhi.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has met with a delegation of MEPs ahead of the October 30 self-government election run-offs and spoken of the Georgian government’s determination to hold the second round of elections in a free and fair environment.