12 November 2018, 11:27
Political analysts treat parties' efforts before second round of presidential election in Georgia as vain
The ruling "Georgian Dream-Democratic Movement" Party has launched an active campaign on the eve of the second round of presidential election; while the opposition has reported violations. Political analysts do not expect any significant increase in voter turnout.
The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the voting at presidential election in Georgia took place on October 28. As a result of vote tabulation, the gap between the race leaders, the independent candidate Salome Zurabishvili, supported by the "Georgian Dream" Party, and the candidate of the United National Movement (UNM) Party, Grigol Vashadze, was less than 1%. The Central Election Commission (CEC) of Georgia has announced the second round of voting to be held no later than December 1.
After the first round, the Prime Minister of Georgia, Mamuka Bakhtadze, announced a number of new social projects, including raising help to large families, teachers' salaries and pensions.
In its turn, the opposition is actively holding meetings with the population and announces the revealed violations committed by the "Georgian Dream" Party.
The latter's activation has to do with the fact that the outcomes of the first round were quite a surprise for the party, experts believe.
According to Zaal Andjaparidze, an analyst, the opposition builds its campaign for the second round of election campaign by "experienced political consultants, who use the 'black PR' methods."
Voters are sceptical about elections, says Nika Chitadze, the head of the Centre for Studying Security and International Relations.
He has pointed out that the "Georgian Dream" Party "is trying to intimidate the population by saying about destabilization in the country, which can onset in case of Vashadze's victory."
This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on November 12, 2018 at 00:18 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.
Author: Inna Kukudjanova Source: CK correspondent
