Georgian presidential election, 28 October 2018

Author (Corporate)
Publication Date 29/11/2018
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Summary:

Georgia held the first round of its presidential elections on 28 October 2018 which was the last presidential election by direct poll, due to the country's constitutional transition from a semi-presidential to parliamentary republic.

25 candidates participated in the first round, while none of them won outright in the voting. The election will go to a second round runoff between two former foreign ministers within two weeks.

In the run off election on 29 November 2018, The ruling party candidate and former Georgian foreign minister Salome Zurabishvili was elected, becoming the first woman to hold the office. She won 59.6 percent of the ballot while the opposition candidate Grigol Vashadze took 40.4 percent. The turnout was 56.23 percent.

Further information:

The two competitors in the runoff are Salome Zurabishvili, a French-born former diplomat and foreign minister, who secured 38.7 percent of the vote, and Grigol Vashadze, also a former foreign minister, who won 37.7 percent of the vote.

After the constitutional change the post of president will be the important image of the country but most authority will be handed to the office of prime minister.

Georgia is a strong U.S. ally and has aspirations of joining NATO and the European Union.

Related Links
Commentary and Analysis
Georgia Today, 29.10.18: OSCE Observers Assess the Presidential Election Process in Georgia http://georgiatoday.ge/news/12955/OSCE-Observers-Assess-the-Presidential-Election-Process-in-Georgia

News
RadioFreeEurope, 29.10.18: Georgian Presidential Vote Held On 'Unlevel Playing Field,' Goes To Runoff https://www.rferl.org/a/zurabishvili-leads-georgia-vote-presidential-runoff-likely/29569348.html
The Telegraph, 29.10.18: Georgia presidential vote to go to runoff after no candidate wins outright https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/10/29/georgia-presidential-vote-go-runoff-no-candidate-wins-outright/
Civil.ge, 28.10.18: Polls Open in Georgia’s Presidential Elections https://civil.ge/archives/261495
BBC News, 29.11.18: Georgia elects Salome Zurabishvili as first woman president https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-46376344
Deutsche Welle, 29.11.18: Georgia elects Salome Zurabishvili as first female president https://www.dw.com/en/georgia-elects-salome-zurabishvili-as-first-female-president/a-46496811
France 24, 29.11.18: Ex-French diplomat set for victory in Georgia presidential vote https://www.france24.com/en/20181128-ex-french-diplomat-salome-zurabishvili-leads-georgia-presidential-runoff-grigol-vashadze

Official
Georgia: Central Election Commission: Press release, Polling Process is Over http://cesko.ge/eng/list/show/116201-amomrchevelta-aqtivoba-2000-st-is-mdgomareobit
EU: EEAS: Statement by the Spokesperson on the presidential elections in Georgia https://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/georgia/52966/

ESO Records
ESO: Information Guide: Georgia http://www.europeansources.info/record/information-guide-georgia/

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