Ruling party chair casts ballot, says the choice is ‘very simple’
Irakli Kobakhidze spoke with journalists after he cast his ballot earlier today. Photo: Irakli Kobakhide/Facebook
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Ruling Georgian Dream party chair Irakli Kobakhide, who has cast his ballot in today’s municipal run-offs, said the choice is ‘very simple’ between the two political forces – the Georgian Dream and the opposition United National Movement.
The choice between the candidates as well as the two political parties is very simple today. On one side is the political party, which promises unrest, [and] chaos, while on the other side is the party, which promises stability, peace and development”, Kobakhidze said.
He further claimed that the detained ex-president of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili is preparing to stage illness today ‘to cause some empathy among his supporters’ on the day of run-offs.
Calling Saakashvili ‘a serious criminal’, the ruling party chair Kobakhidze said the former should not only be on a hunger strike, but regret his crimes.
Based on Kobakhidze the investigation into the ‘coup d’etat conspiracy’ launched by the State Security Service proves that the former governing party – the UNN - only aims to cause unrest in the country.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Kakha Kuchava has cast his ballot in today’s municipal run-offs saying he voted for the ruling party candidate Kakha Kaladze.
Georgian is holding municipal run-offs in 20 of 64 election constituencies, including all five big cities of Georgia - Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Rustavi, Batumi and Poti. A total of 2,088,722 registered voters can elect mayors and city council (Sakrebulo) members at 1,830 polling stations countrywide.
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 Central Election Commission (CEC) has called on the public to participate in the municipal election run-offs which will be held in Georgia on October 30. The CEC announced earlier today that the run-off will be held in 5 self-governing cities, 15 municipalities and 24 election districts.
A total of 154,163 voters (7.38 per cent of eligible voters) have cast their ballots in the Georgian municipal run-offs as of 10 a.m. today. Voter turnout in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi stands at 7.4 per cent.
United States Ambassador Kelly Degnan and Head of European Union Delegation Carl Hartzell encourage the public to come out and make their voices heard in today’s municipal run-offs in Georgia.
Five people have been detained for physical assault near polling station No. 20 in the western Georgian town of Zugdidi, the Interior Ministry reports. The ministry representative Ketevan Kovziashvili has informed the public of the activities aimed to ensure safe and peaceful environment during the municipal run-offs.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, who has cast his ballot in today’s municipal elections, said he voted for the country’s ‘peaceful development.’ PM Garibashvili, who arrived at the polling station with his family, asked the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) supporters to cast their ballots as well.
The chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party Irakli Kobakhidze has said that according to the data by 7 p.m, GD is winning the municipal run-offs in all 20 municipalities. The local self-government election run-offs are held today in 20 out of 64 election constituencies, including the five large cities of Georgia: Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Rustavi, Batumi and Poti.