Exit Polls Suggests Saakashvili’s Overwhelming Victory
CEC Says Presidential Elections are Valid
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| Saakashvili and his Dutch wife Sandra Roelofs after announcement of the exit poll results. |
According to the exit polls, conducted by the U.S. polling firm Global Strategy Group, other candidates received less than 1%. Temur Shashiashvili and Roin Liparteliani received 0,4 each, while Zaza Sikharulidze and Kartlos Gharibashvili – 0,1% each.
Mikheil Saakashvili thanked his supporters, who where gathered in the Philharmonic Hall, and Georgia’s each citizen. “The whole Georgia has won,” Mikheil Saakashvili said.
“The drastic measures, to improve the situation in the country, will be carried out from the very first days of my presidency. We should amend the constitution. I also intend to submit to the Parliament for approve anti-corruption bill. I have always kept my promises and I will do in the future as well,” Mikheil Saakashvili told Rustavi 2 television just after the announcement of the exit poll results.
Mikheil Saakashvili will hold a press conference today where he will outline details of his plans after taking over the President’s office.
First partial official results are expected to be available on January 5. Final official results are due within a week after the election. However, no one doubts that the official results will be very close to those of exit polls.
Chairman of the Central Election Commission (CEC) Zurab Tchiaberashvili said more than 1,6 million voters cast ballot one hour before the polls closed.
“Thus according to the preliminary information elections are valid,” Tchiaberashvili added.
The CEC chief also said that the percentage figures of the voter turnout would be available only after the elections, as the exact number of the voters is not known yet.
More than 1,7 citizens underwent voter registration before the elections day. However, the registration is continuing on January 4 as well. Turnout has to reach 50% for the election to be valid.
“That is why we will know the percentage of voter turnout only after the elections,” Zurab Tchiaberashvili said.
Presidential candidate Mikheil Saakashvili today hailed the high voter turnout during the January 4 presidential elections.
“I am really surprised with such a high turnout, but yet more voters should come at the polling stations,” Saakashvili said earlier today after voting.
“Everybody can witness how active our population is. Now, our main task is to build better future. This is my prime goal,” Saakashvili said after casting ballot at one of the precincts in Tbilisi.
Polling stations in Georgia’s 75 districts opened at 8 a.m and were closed at 8 p.m. No major violations have been reported so far by the election observers.
Chairman of the CEC Zurab Tchiaberashvili said earlier “elections are held in normal conditions.” “No serious problems have been reported. There are some minor technical problems, but they will not hamper holding of elections,” Zurab Tchiaberashvili said at a news briefing.
The polling stations were opened in Adjara Autonomous Republic as well. Reports say Aslan Abashidze, the leader of the Autonomous Republic, who earlier threatened to boycott elections, cast ballot just 15 minutes before the polls were closed.
This morning Georgia’s ex-President Eduard Shevardnadze has also cast ballot in one of the precincts of Tbilisi, however earlier in one of his interview he said that he would not participate in the elections.
When asked whether he cast ballot for Mikheil Saakashvili, Shevardnadze replied, “you are close to right answer.” “He [Saakashvili] is a cleaver,” Shevardnadze added.
“I would advise the new President not to talk much and to work much,” Eduard Shevardnadze told reporters.
The United States, which has been watching developments in Georgia very closely, expressed hope on January 1 that the elections will be “clean and peaceful” that “represents the will of the Georgian people.”
U.S. ambassador to Georgia Richard Miles visited two polling stations in Tbilisi to personally observer the voting.