Georgia’s Ruling Party Edges Toward Victory in Local Elections

(Bloomberg) -- The ruling Georgian Dream party looked set to retain power in municipal elections after violence across the country marred the second round of voting. 

In the contest for mayor of the capital Tbilisi, incumbent Kakha Kaladze of the ruling party led Nika Melia of the United National Movement by 55.7% to 44.3%, the Central Election Commission said after just over half the votes were counted. The polls closed Saturday at 8 p.m.

“I am glad I was given the second chance again to lead the capital,” Kaladze told reporters. “We need to understand that the opposition must accept the defeat.”

Early results also show the ruling party leading in other major cities, according to the commission, which estimated the total turnout was 49%. The opposition says the vote was stolen and will wait for the full results.

“The government must stop manipulating the numbers especially when they are so many clashes and disagreements at polling stations during the counting,” Helen Khoshtaria, a member of the united opposition, said at a briefing. 

Georgia went back to the polls after initial results on Oct. 2 showed the ruling party leading in municipal elections. Former president Mikheil Saakashvili has been on a hunger strike since his arrest on the eve of the first round.

There were as many as 100 complaints after frequent clashes between opponents and supporters of the government. One person was detained and police said they are investigating eight cases. International observers will deliver their verdict on the elections on Sunday.

The government has accused Saakashvili of crossing the border illegally. He fled Georgia in 2013 after the incoming Georgian Dream government of his rival, billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, accused him of abuse of power shortly after his term as president ended.

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