Page 6 - GEORptNov18

European Georgia party, trailed home in third place among a field of 25 with 10.97% of the vote. Bakradze said his party would throw its support behind Vashadze in the runoff.
Georgian Dream has dominated the legislative and executive branches for six years, but it has disappointed the electorate with a lack of vision. The party prompted great expectations when it replaced Saakashvili’s United National Movement (UNM), founded in late 2001.
Unless there is a major surprise amid extremely low turnout, the overall external orientation of Georgia as a long-time candidate for European Union and Nato memberships will not change.
2.0 Politics
2.1 Near photo-finish in Georgia’s presidential election
first-round vote
Modest turnout
French-born former foreign minister Salome Zurabishvili is to face another ex-foreign minister Grigol Vashadze in a runoff for the Georgian presidency to be held by December 2. The first-round vote gave Zurabishvili, an independent candidate who has the backing of the ruling Georgian Dream coalition, a wafer-thin lead of 38.64% of votes to 37.74% over Grigol Vashadze, who is supported by an opposition coalition including main opposition party United National Movement (UNM), the Central Election Commission (CEC) said on October 29, a day after the vote.
Former speaker of parliament Davit Bakradze, nominated by the opposition European Georgia party, trailed home in third place among a field of 25 with 10.97% of the vote. Bakradze said his party would throw its support behind Vashadze in the runoff.
The final first-round results must be published within 20 days, while the runoff must take place within two weeks after that.
Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze congratulated Georgians after the polls closed, saying the vote was held in a "peaceful, free, and democratic environment."
“We all are serving the nation," said outgoing President Giorgi Margvelashvili, who is not seeking a second term, after placing his vote.
Transparency International Georgia said its observers had reported "up to 90" violations ranging from "insignificant" to "relatively serious" ones. They included alleged vote rigging and vote buying.
Turnout for the election stood at a modest 46.7%, according to officials , in line with expectations and almost exactly the same figure as was seen for the 2013 presidential election.
Vashadze is expected to hold a slim advantage in the second round. He will benefit from a consolidation of opposition forces ahead of the runoff, while Zurabishvili will count on 'big tent' party Georgian Dream, led by billionaire
6 GEORGIA Country Report November 2018 www.intellinews.com