Ruling party Sec Gen: credibility, political support for opposition “diminished to zero”

Kakha Kaladze, the Mayor of Tbilisi and the Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Monday claimed the credibility and political support for the domestic opposition had been “diminished to zero”, following a round of elections and by-elections in 10 municipalities across the country.

In his remarks on the voting, Kaladze said opposition figures had decided against participating as “they knew what the result was going to be”.

It is clear why the opposition did not take part in the elections - it is because they knew what the result was going to be. They know very well what kind of attitude the public has towards them. Their credibility and political support has been diminished to zero in the country today”, the ruling party official said.

“Some particular party, of course, has its supporters, but today the most powerfully represented is Georgian Dream with its supporters. These particular by-elections are a proof of this – the public saw how much support Georgian Dream and its candidates have”, Kaladze concluded.

A total of 55,363 voters took part in the elections in all ten municipalities, with the highest turnout being recorded in Akhaltsikhe, where 47.8 percent of voters went to the polling stations, the Central Election Commission said. 

By the preliminary results, the Georgian Dream party candidates have been elected in all ten municipalities, including majoritarian members of the Parliament in Poti, Senaki and Khobi, majoritarian members of city councils (Sakrebulo) in Gurjaani, Tianeti, Akhaltsikhe, Tkibuli and Kutaisi, as well as mayors of Tsageri and Terjola.