Georgian Dream Has Strong Showing in Adjara’s Local Elections

LEDE: Opposition UNM places second, pro-Russian parties gain one seat each

BATUMI, Georgia – Voters in Georgia’s western Adjara region on the Black Sea went to the polls on October 8 to cast their ballot for the country’s next parliament, but unlike the rest of Saturday’s voter, Adjaran residents were also voting for their region’s autonomous legislative body.

By all accounts, the elections went smoothly and peacefully as 162,076 Adjaran residents – 52.5 per cent of the region’s population – cast their vote.

According to preliminary results from the Adjaran Autonomous Republic Central Election Commission the ruling Georgian Dream party garnered 44.91 per cent of the vote and the main opposition United National Movement received 29.63 per cent of the ballots cast.

The only other parties to cross the 5 per cent threshold needed to enter Adjara’s Supreme Council were the two staunchly pro-Russian parties – veteran lawmaker Nino Burdjanadze’s Democratic Movement (6.08 per cent) and the Patriotic Alliance (5.71 per cent), led by Irma Inashvili.

Six majoritarian candidates stood for both Parliament and the Supreme Council in the region, only one of which – a member of the Georgian Dream –  crossed the 50 per cent threshold needed to avoid a second round run off.

If the Georgian Dream fares well in the next round, winning all the majoritarian seats, the ruling coalition will have a constitutional super majority in the 21-member Supreme Council.

As it currently stands, the Georgian Dream will have eight members, United National Movement – 5; one spot each for the Democratic Movement and Patriotic Alliance.  

Adjara’s Supreme Council is the foundation of the region’s status as an autonomous republic inside Georgia. The members of the Supreme Council are elected to four-year terms.

By Mariko Natsarishvili