13 political parties have appealed the Adjarian Supreme Election Commission to run for the local elections scheduled for June 20.
The deadline for submitting applications expired on May 27; however, the parties can set up election blocs until June 3rd.
President Saakashvili’s ruling National Movement-Democrats party is the overwhelming favorite in the upcoming elections.
The other 12 parties registered in the Adjarian Supreme Election are: the Republican Party; the Labor Party; the National-Democratic Party (NDP); Industry will Save Georgia; Traditionalists; the Green’s Party; the Communist Party of Adjara; the Christian-Democratic Party; the Merab Kostava Society; the Party for Democratic Truth; the New Communist Party; the Union for Women’s Rights.
The New Rights opposition party, which demanded postponement of local elections in Adjara, refused to participate in the polls. However, their political partners, the Industry will Save Georgia, will run in the elections.
The National Movement and the Republic Party, which formed a bloc during the March 28th parliamentary elections in Tbilisi, submitted separate applications to the commission. The leader of the Republican Party, Davit Berdzenishvili, said consultations will be held with the National Movement over the forming of a bloc.
Voters in the Adjara Autonomous Republic will elect a new, 30-seat Parliament, in which 18 MPs will be elected through proportional party lists and 12 MPs through single-mandate constituencies.