2018 Georgian presidential election


Presidential elections were held in Georgia on 28 October 2018, the seventh presidential elections since the country's restoration of independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. The previous elections in October 2013 resulted in a victory for Giorgi Margvelashvili, a candidate of the Georgian Dream coalition.
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.
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. Salome Zurabishvili won with around 60% of the vote in the second round 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. 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." 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.

Candidates

46 people applied to participate in the elections, 21 of which were rejected by the Election Administration of Georgia. 25 presidential candidates were registered by the Election Administration of Georgia. This is the largest number since Georgia's first presidential election in 1991. All 25 candidates were included on the ballot paper.
NameOccupationNominated by
1Mikheil AntadzeProfessorState for the People Movement
2Davit BakradzeMember of ParliamentEuropean Georgia
4Vakhtang GabuniaPoliticianChristian‐Democratic Movement
5Grigol VashadzeFormer Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia United National Movement
10Shalva NatelashviliLeader of Georgian Labour PartyGeorgian Labour Party
13Zviad MekhatishviliPoliticianChristian‐Conservative Party of Georgia
17Giorgi LiluashviliVice President of Georgian National AcademyParty Georgia
18Akaki AsatianiPoliticianUnion of Georgian Traditionalists
21Kakha KukavaPoliticianFree Georgia
22Otar MeunargiaIndustry Will Save Georgia
23Irakli GorgadzeUnemployedMovement for a Free Georgia
25David UsupashviliLeader of Development Movement, former chairman of the Parliament of GeorgiaFree Democrats
27Zviad BaghdavadzeUnemployedCivic Platform – New Georgia
28Mikheil SaluashviliPoliticianUnion of Justice Restoration of the Nation: The Lord Is Our Truth
30Zviad IashviliUnemployedNational‐Democratic Party
31Tamar TskhoragauliEntrepreneurPolitical Movement Freedom – Zviad Gamsakhurdia’s Way
35Gela KhutsishviliPoliticianPolitical Movement of the Veterans and Patriots of Georgia
36Zurab JaparidzeLeader of GirchiGirchi
40Levan ChkheidzeChkheidze and Partners Law FirmNew Christian‐Democrats
48Salome ZurabishviliMember of ParliamentInitiative Group of Voters
49Besarion TediashviliFounder of TF ConstructionInitiative Group of Voters
51Giorgi AndriadzeDeputy Chairperson of the Commission for Learning Christian Theology and History of Religion at the Georgian Academy of SciencesInitiative Group of Voters
58Kakhaber ChichinadzeEntrepreneurInitiative Group of Voters
62Director of Publishing House ParagraphInitiative Group of Voters
65Teimuraz ShashiashviliUnemployedInitiative Group of Voters

Withdrawn

Democratic Movement

Independent

Second round

Approval ratings

Results

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.
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.
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