Georgia: GDDG Sweeps Runoffs In Preliminary Results

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(Civil.Ge) — As preliminary results posted on the Central Election Commission (CEC) website (results.cec.gov.ge) suggest, with over 50% of the voting protocols counted, Georgian Dream – Democratic Georgia (GDDG) has swept the runoffs, leading with a significant margin in 47 out of 49 districts it was contesting.

In one district, Khashuri, GDDG candidate is losing to the challenger from the Industrialists party, while in another, Mtskheta, the result is too close to call against an independet candidate. In Mtatsminda district of Tbilisi, GDDG did not field the candidate, but has backed an independent – Salome Zourabichvili, who seems set to win the runoffs.

With these results, GDDG is nearly certain to gain 113 seat supermajority, required to change the Constitution. GDDG has already won 67 seats in the first round of polls.

The voter turnout was 35.7% according to CEC.

UNM leader Giga Bokeria has alleged massive voter intimidation and voter bribing before the second round as well as ballot stuffing during the voting have skewed the results disproportionally in GDDG`s favor. He pledged to fight on “through all legal and constitutional means.” If the preliminary results of the runoffs stand, UNM will have 25 MPs in the new parliament.

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