Opposition UNM Might Name Ex-first Lady Zugdidi Mayoral Candidate

Opposition party the United National Movement (UNM) is considering the ex-first lady of Georgia, the wife of the third president Mikheil Saakashvili, Sandra Roelofs, as their mayoral candidate in Zugdidi, Samegrelo region, western Georgia.

Georgia media outlet IPN reports that “a source” informed them that the party is focused on the result achieved by Sandra Roelofs in the Zugdidi constituency during the parliamentary elections in 2016.

“In fact, she won the elections in Zugdidi during the parliamentary elections. Sandra Roelofs is the main candidate in the discussion process,” IPN quoted “the source.”

During the October 2016 parliamentary elections in Georgia, Roelofs was the Majoritarian Candidate of the UNM.

In the first round, she won with the majority of votes but refused to take part in the run-off, claiming the elections were “falsified.”

After refusal, her candidacy still remained in the ballot papers, as the Central Election Commission explained, and the people were still able to vote for her.

Roelofs won the second round too but afterwards, she refused to enter the legislative body as the MP.

By Thea Morrison