2018 Georgian presidential election

The 2018 Presidential election were held in Georgia on 28 October. It was the seventh presidential election in the history of Georgia. The previous elections in October 2013 resulted in a victory for Giorgi Margvelashvili, a candidate of the Georgian Dream coalition.

2018 Georgian presidential election
28 October 2018 (first round)
28 November 2018 (second round)
Registered3,518,877[1]
Turnout46.83% (first round)
56.5% (second round)
 
Candidate Salome Zurabishvili Grigol Vashadze
Party Independent ENM
Alliance Georgian Dream Strength is in Unity
Popular vote 1,147,701 780,680
Percentage 59.52% 40.48%
First round results by region or municipality
President before election

Giorgi Margvelashvili
Independent

 Elected President

Salome Zurabishvili
Independent (Georgian Dream)

Following amendments to the constitution in 2017, the 2018 elections will be the last direct presidential vote; after 2018 presidents will be elected by the 300-member College of Electors. In view of these changes, the President will be elected for a term of six years in 2018.[2]

A second round involving Salome Zurabishvili and Grigol Vashadze was held on 28 November 2018 because no candidate was able to secure at least 50% of the vote in the first round.[3] Salome Zurabishvili won with around 60% of the vote in the second round[4] and took office on 16 December 2018.

The pre-election campaign was marred by a polarized political environment and a series of secret tape recordings aired by the pro-opposition Rustavi 2 TV, leading to allegations of kidnappings and torture by investigators to secure convictions, pressure and coercion on businesses and media, high-level corruption, and selective justice.[5] International observers assessed the elections as competitive and free, stressing that "one side enjoyed an undue advantage and the negative character of the campaign on both sides undermined the process", while the misuse of administrative resources "blurred the line between party and state."[6] However, Transparency International, based on information from a state agency employee, alleged that state agencies were publishing fake identity cards to allow Zourabichvili supporters to cast multiple ballots in the election. According to the plan, five fake IDs were published per individual, and "trustworthy" officials of agencies were vested with the duty of conducting such action.[7]

Candidates

46 people applied to participate in the elections, 21 of which were rejected by the Election Administration of Georgia.[8] 25 presidential candidates were registered by the Election Administration of Georgia.[8][9] This is the largest number since Georgia's first presidential election in 1991.[10] All 25 candidates were included on the ballot paper.[11]

Name Occupation Nominated by
1 Mikheil Antadze Professor State for the People Movement
2 Davit Bakradze Member of Parliament European Georgia
4 Vakhtang Gabunia Politician Christian‐Democratic Movement
5 Grigol Vashadze Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia (2008-2012) United National Movement
10 Shalva Natelashvili Leader of Georgian Labour Party Georgian Labour Party
13 Zviad Mekhatishvili Politician Christian‐Conservative Party of Georgia
17 Giorgi Liluashvili Vice President of Georgian National Academy Party Georgia
18 Akaki Asatiani Politician Union of Georgian Traditionalists
21 Kakha Kukava Politician Free Georgia
22 Otar Meunargia Industry Will Save Georgia
23 Irakli Gorgadze Unemployed Movement for a Free Georgia
25 David Usupashvili Leader of Development Movement, former chairman of the Parliament of Georgia Free Democrats
27 Zviad Baghdavadze Unemployed Civic Platform – New Georgia
28 Mikheil Saluashvili Politician Union of Justice Restoration of the Nation: The Lord Is Our Truth
30 Zviad Iashvili Unemployed National‐Democratic Party
31 Tamar Tskhoragauli Entrepreneur Political Movement Freedom – Zviad Gamsakhurdia’s Way
35 Gela Khutsishvili Politician Political Movement of the Veterans and Patriots of Georgia
36 Zurab Japaridze Leader of Girchi Girchi
40 Levan Chkheidze Chkheidze and Partners Law Firm New Christian‐Democrats
48 Salome Zurabishvili Member of Parliament Initiative Group of Voters
49 Besarion Tediashvili Founder of TF Construction Initiative Group of Voters
51 Giorgi Andriadze Deputy Chairperson of the Commission for Learning Christian Theology and History of Religion at the Georgian Academy of Sciences Initiative Group of Voters
58 Kakhaber Chichinadze Entrepreneur Initiative Group of Voters
62 Vladimer Nonikashvili Director of Publishing House Paragraph Initiative Group of Voters
65 Teimuraz Shashiashvili Unemployed Initiative Group of Voters

Democratic Movement

Independent

Opinion polls
From 2018
Pollster Date Bakradze
EG		 Vashadze
UNM		 Zurabishvili
Independent		 Natelashvili
Labour		 Usupashvili
DM		 Japaridze
Girchi		 Burjanadze
DMUG		 TBD
APG		 Margvelashvili
Independent		 Elisashvili
Independent		 Kukava
FG		 Bregadze
GM		 None of the Above
EXIT POLLS:
BCG		 28.10.18 17% 37% 34% 5% - - - - - - - - -
EXIT POLLS:
Psychoportrait		 28.10.18 9% 28% 52% 2% 2% 3% - - - - - - -
EXIT POLLS:
Edison Research		 28.10.18 10% 40% 40% 3% 2% 3% - - - - - - -
Election day (28 October)
BCG 20.10.18-24.10.18 30% 27% 33% 4% 2% - - - - - - - -
Edison Research 15.10.18-24.10.18 16% 37% 32% 6% - - - - - - - - 8%
IPN, Ambebi.ge, Kvirispalitra.ge 24.10.18 5% 27% 31% 3% 11% 5% - - - - - - 18%
Edison Research 25.09.18-4.10.18 15% 31% 16% 7% 3% - - - - - - - 21%
BCG 15–22 September 2018 29% 28% 21% 10% 6% - - - - - - - 6%
Edison Research 3–23 September 2018 18% 22% 15% 8% 3% 2% - - - - - - 32%
Primary August–September 2018 18.9% 43.9% 8.8% 5.7% 2.1% - - - - 3.9% 8% - -
Newposts August 2018 15% 25% 12% 4% 2% - - - - - - - 33%
Allnews 2 August 2018 5% 18% 19% - - - 8% - 6% 10% - - 30%
Metronome August 2018 5% 37% 8% 2% 3% 27% 3% - 2% 2% - - 8%
NDI 23.06.18 —08.07.18 6% 10% 12% 4% - - - - 6% - - - -
IRI 01.04.18 —22.04.18 16% 8% 17% 1% - - - 3% 10% - - - -

Second round
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Vashadze
UNM		 Zurabishvili
Independent		 Undecided
EXIT POLLS:
Gallup International		 28.11.18 43% 57% -
EXIT POLLS:
Edison Research		 28.11.18 45% 55% -
Second round (28 November)
Edison Research 12–18 November 2018 52% 48% -
Pollitic 18–25 November 2018 70% 30% -
Gallup International 16–18 November 2018 48% 52% -
Edison Research 1–9 November 2018 41% 36% 23%
First round (28 October)
BCG 20–24 October 2018 39% 27% -
Edison Research 15–24 October 2018 44% 29% 27%
BCG 15–22 September 2018 40% 19% 40%
Edison Research 14–23 September 2018 50% 24% 26%

Approval ratings
DatePollsterSample size
Apr 2018IRI1,500
March 2018NDI2,194
  
Giorgi Kvirikashvili
N/O
41527
251658
  
David Bakradze
N/O
53407
341847
  
Grigol Vashadze
N/O
325216
152164
  
Giorgi Margvelashvili
N/O
52426
261857
  
Shalva Natelashvili
N/O
34588
–––
  
Nino Burjanadze
N/O
23734
–––

Results
Candidate Party First round Second round
Votes % Votes %
Salomé ZurabishviliIndependent (Georgian Dream)615,57238.641,147,70159.52
Grigol VashadzeUnited National Movement601,22437.74780,68040.48
Davit BakradzeEuropean Georgia174,84910.97
Shalva NatelashviliGeorgian Labour Party59,6513.74
David UsupashviliDevelopment Movement36,0372.26
Zurab JaparidzeGirchi36,0342.26
Kakha KukavaFree Georgia21,1861.33
Giorgi AndriadzeIndependent13,1330.82
Teimuraz ShashiashviliIndependent9,4810.60
Tamar TskhoragauliFreedom - Zviad Gamsakhurdia's Way4,0040.25
Besarion TediashviliIndependent3,7130.23
Mikheil SaluashviliUnion for the Restoration of Justice2,9700.19
Levan ChkheidzeNew Christian Democrats2,8950.18
Akaki AsatianiUnion of Georgian Traditionalists1,9940.13
Vakhtang GabuniaChristian Democratic Movement1,9580.12
Gela KhutsishviliGeorgian Veterans' and Patriots' Political Movement1,6230.10
Kakhaber ChichinadzeIndependent1,4180.09
Mikheil AntadzeState for the People1,0740.07
Giorgi LiluashviliGeorgia Party8920.06
Zviad MekhatishviliGeorgian Christian-Conservative Party7130.04
Otar MeunargiaIndustry Will Save Georgia6640.04
Vladimer NonikashviliIndependent6330.04
Irakli GorgadzeMovement for a Free Georgia5310.03
Zviad BaghdavadzeCitizen Platform - New Georgia4770.03
Zviad IashviliNational Democratic Party4440.03
Invalid/blank votes53,847–59,778–
Total1,647,8781001,988,787100
Registered voters/turnout3,518,87746.833,528,65856.36
Source: CEC, CEC

Reactions

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe stated that the elections were "competitive and professionally administered," but noted concerned about a "substantial imbalance in donations", "excessively high spending limits", and a "lack of analytical reporting" as contributing factors to creating an unlevel playing field.[16]

On 29 November, the second day after the run-off results were released, the United National Movement leader-in-exile Mikheil Saakashvili encouraged supporters not to accept the election results and to hold demonstrations against the newly elected president. He also called for civil disobedience toward the police and armed forces.

References
  1. "Certified Official Results of the 28 October 2018 First Round of the Georgian Presidential Election" (PDF). Central Election Commission (in Georgian). Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  2. "Key Points of Newly Adopted Constitution". Civil Georgia. 27 September 2017. Retrieved 9 December 2017.
  3. "Second Round of Presidential Election will be Held on November 28". Central Election Commission. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  4. "Results 2018". Central Election Commission. Archived from the original on 22 October 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  5. "Georgia's tapes scandals suggest something is rotten at the top of Georgian politics". OC Media. 17 October 2018. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
  6. "Georgia's First Woman President Sworn In Amid Opposition Protests". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 17 December 2018. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
  7. https://www.transparency.ge/en/post/investigation-instances-alleged-election-fraud-must-be-launched
  8. "25 Presidential Candidates are Registered for October 28, 2018 Elections". Election Administration of Georgia. 23 September 2018. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  9. "October 28, 2018 Presidential Elections of Georgia Registered Presidential Candidates" (PDF). cesko.ge. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  10. "Presidential Elections 2018: Weekly Digest No.2". Civil.ge. 25 September 2018. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  11. The Term for Presidential Candidates to Withdraw their Candidacies has Expired
  12. "Presidential Candidate Zurabishvili Claims Georgia Started August 2008 War". Georgia Today on the Web. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  13. "Nino Burjanadze boycotts presidential election". Interpressnews. 8 September 2018. Archived from the original on 9 September 2018. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
  14. "Current president Giorgi Margvelashvili not to run in presidential elections". Agenda.ge. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  15. "Goodbye, Mr. President". Georgia Today on the Web. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  16. ¢Voters had a genuine choice and candidates campaigned freely, but on an unlevel playing field, international observers say Archived 4 November 2018 at the Wayback Machine Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, press release of 29 October 2018.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.