Georgian Dream Party leads as electoral authority announces preliminary election results

• President Salome Zurabishvili challenges these results, claiming European Georgia is winning with 52% 

TBILISI, Georgia 

Georgia completed voting in its 11th parliamentary election since regaining independence in 1991, with preliminary results by the Central Election Commission (CEC) showing the ruling Georgian Dream Party in the lead, though the complete official results have yet to be announced.

As of 10.00 pm local time (1800GMT) the CEC announces preliminary results: Georgian Dream – 52.99% (935,004 votes), Coalition for Change – 11.2% (197,619 votes), Unity-UNM – 9.83 (173,510 votes), Strong Georgia – 9.02% (159,306 votes), Gakharia – For Georgia – 8.22% (145,205 votes), while others failed to pass the 5% threshold.

The party’s leadership, including Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and honorary founder Bidzina Ivanishvili, gathered at party headquarters in Tbilisi to celebrate what they claim is their fourth straight victory.

However, President Salome Zourabichvili challenged these unofficial results in a statement on social media, claiming that pro-EU opposition parties won 52% of the vote despite alleged electoral irregularities. She pointed out that overseas ballots were still being counted.

“European Georgia is winning with 52 % despite attempts to rigg elections and without votes from the diaspora,” she stated on X.

The main opposition blocs, Unity to Save Georgia, led by former President Mikheil Saakashvili’s United National Movement, and the Coalition for Change, received between 11-17% and 12-18% of votes, respectively, according to local media.

Parties try to pass 5% threshold

A total of 18 parties, including four electoral blocs, competed to pass the 5% electoral threshold.

As a result of the elections, the political party or electoral bloc that can win 76 seats in the parliament will be able to form a single government.

If the opposition parties win the elections, the formation of a coalition government is highly likely.

Georgia’s Central Election Commission is expected to release the preliminary results later Saturday.

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