Colonel William A. Phillips

The 2014 Georgian local elections (Georgian: საქართველოს ადგილობრივი თვითმმართველობის ორგანოების არჩევნები) were held on 15 June and 12 July 2014 to elect the councils of local government, sakrebulo, mayors of 12 self-governing cities, as well as the governors, gamgebeli, of 59 municipalities.

Background

The previous local election in Georgia was held in May 2010 and resulted in the overwhelming victory of the United National Movement (UNM) party, chaired by then-President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili. The 2014 election was held in a changed political climate as the UNM lost its position of a ruling party to Bidzina Ivanishvili-led Georgian Dream coalition in the parliamentary election of 2012 and Saakashvili's second and final presidential term expired in 2013. After the Georgian Dream's accession to power, the bodies of local government became political battlegrounds and many members of the local councils abandoned the UNM.[1] Both the UNM leadership and political analysts saw the local elections of 2014 as a chance for the UNM to stage a political comeback.[2][3]

2014 Tbilisi mayoral election

The first round of the 2014 Tbilisi mayoral election was held on 15 June 2014. The candidate of the Georgian Dream coalition, Davit Narmania, received 46.09%, Nika Melia of the United National Movement received 27.97%, Dimitri Lortkipanidze of the Nino Burjanadze - United Opposition coalition received 12.81%, and Irma Inashvili of the Alliance of Patriots Georgia received 5.37%.[4][5][6]

This was the first Georgian mayoral election in which a second round had to be held, as no candidate received more than 50% of the vote and a runoff was held on July 12, in which Narmania won with 72.47% of the vote.[7]

CandidatePartyFirst roundSecond round
Votes%Votes%
Davit NarmaniaGeorgian Dream151,80746.09222,06672.47
Nika MeliaUnited National Movement92,12527.9784,35027.53
Dimitri LortkipanidzeUnited Opposition42,20812.81
Irma InashviliAlliance of Patriots17,6845.37
Asmat TkabladzeLabour Party8,0912.46
Kakha KukavaExtra-parliamentary Opposition7,6422.32
Giorgi GachechiladzeGreen Party3,7341.13
Teimuraz MurvanidzeThe Way of Georgia1,6400.50
Irakli GlontiReformers1,1690.35
Sergo JavakhidzeSelf-government to the People!1,1400.35
Mikheil SaluashviliIn the Name of God - God is Our Truth1,0620.32
Giorgi LiluashviliMerab Kostava Society3590.11
Roin LipartelianiWorkers' Council of Georgia3580.11
Giorgi LagidzeFuture Georgia3510.11
Total329,370100.00306,416100.00
Valid votes329,37096.55306,41696.66
Invalid/blank votes11,7713.4510,5903.34
Total votes341,141100.00317,006100.00
Registered voters/turnout918,66737.13920,02034.46
Source: CEC, CEC

Results

Election posters of the Georgian Dream and Davit Narmania

In the Tbilisi city council elections the Georgian Dream coalition received 46.01%, the United National Movement received 26.11%, the Nino Burjanadze - United Opposition coalition received 10.35%, and the Alliance of Patriots of Georgia received 6.35%. No other party crossed the 4% electoral threshold.[8]

Nationally, Georgian Dream received 51%, United National Movement received 22%, the Nino Burjanadze - United Opposition coalition received 10%, and the Alliance of Patriots of Georgia received 4.7%.[5][6]

Municipality Turnout GD UNM UO APG GLP EPO TWG GP Others Lead
Tbilisi* 37.34 46.01 26.11 10.35 6.35 3.43 2.00 1.17 Steady 4.58 19.90
Sagarejo 41.55 54.29 21.00 6.80 6.35 3.99 3.19 0.85 Steady 3.53 33.29
Gurjaani 46.94 53.76 23.28 12.57 Steady 4.98 1.33 1.16 Steady 2.92 30.48
Sighnaghi 48.27 63.54 15.88 8.77 2.96 2.74 0.69 0.31 Steady 5.11 47.66
Dedoplistskaro 51.65 84.45 9.51 2.90 Steady 2.12 0.75 Steady Steady 0.27 74.94
Lagodekhi 47.55 52.83 15.16 24.03 2.82 3.11 0.61 Steady Steady 1.44 28.80
Kvareli 54.27 42.52 24.34 10.30 7.05 5.72 2.47 1.04 Steady 6.56 18.18
Telavi (City)* 43.09 41.14 21.84 14.32 4.46 5.29 5.97 Steady Steady 6.98 19.30
Telavi (Mun.) 43.09 46.86 24.54 19.66 1.73 4.95 1.10 0.59 Steady 0.57 22.32
Akhmeta 48.25 46.52 22.87 20.87 Steady 5.33 2.62 0.55 Steady 1.24 23.65
Tianeti 59.81 49.08 5.34 25.32 4.09 5.79 1.58 Steady Steady 8.80 23.76
Rustavi* 36.24 40.74 27.61 7.20 5.03 5.46 2.10 1.20 Steady 10.66 13.13
Gardabani 36.37 58.94 24.11 Steady Steady 5.67 1.87 0.95 Steady 8.46 34.83
Marneuli 33.96 52.42 28.87 10.28 1.81 0.44 0.52 Steady Steady 5.66 23.55
Bolnisi 38.03 63.34 12.56 13.22 3.56 1.69 0.38 0.41 Steady 4.84 50.12
Dmanisi 51.07 71.16 15.33 7.91 Steady 2.43 1.04 Steady Steady 2.13 55.83
Tsalka 43.72 59.00 10.58 20.88 3.00 0.44 1.77 Steady Steady 4.33 38.12
Tetritskaro 48.46 56.55 26.62 9.71 Steady 3.47 0.83 Steady Steady 2.82 29.93
Mtskheta (City)* 45.97 38.87 4.58 20.67 9.63 7.24 0.68 Steady Steady 18.33 18.20
Mtskheta (Mun.) 45.97 52.02 13.35 6.61 9.41 10.34 1.09 Steady Steady 7.18 38.67
Dusheti 46.84 50.12 9.45 10.49 13.08 12.33 1.40 0.76 Steady 2.37 37.04
Kazbegi 52.59 45.43 3.34 17.60 12.33 5.26 1.12 Steady Steady 14.92 27.83
Kaspi 43.19 58.94 12.81 11.17 7.22 5.60 1.43 Steady Steady 2.83 46.13
Gori (City)* 40.48 36.08 15.47 7.74 3.46 4.35 1.88 1.06 28.23 1.73 7.85
Gori (Mun.) 40.48 43.08 15.41 8.63 0.98 3.43 0.49 0.84 25.91 1.23 17.17
Kareli 48.76 57.00 15.86 8.55 Steady 5.07 1.49 11.99 Steady 0.04 41.14
Khashuri 36.80 44.77 18.43 8.54 6.55 8.76 2.76 0.89 Steady 9.30 26.34
Borjomi 45.77 48.26 11.24 14.12 12.74 8.10 0.56 Steady Steady 4.98 34.14
Akhaltsikhe (City)* 50.53 57.27 29.25 4.85 3.03 1.95 1.21 1.29 Steady 1.15 28.02
Akhaltsikhe (Mun.) 50.53 59.21 31.58 3.25 2.72 1.57 0.81 Steady Steady 0.86 27.63
Adigeni 58.27 57.73 26.67 11.43 Steady 2.15 0.96 Steady Steady 1.06 31.06
Aspindza 68.95 53.45 24.88 6.93 6.67 1.24 2.37 Steady Steady 4.46 28.57
Akhalkalaki 48.81 51.28 7.67 5.08 Steady 0.37 29.57 Steady Steady 6.03 21.71
Ninotsminda 51.56 68.83 10.14 1.43 Steady 0.40 3.27 Steady Steady 15.93 58.69
Oni 60.46 49.53 14.31 18.43 6.73 1.25 2.55 1.80 Steady 5.40 31.10
Ambrolauri (City)* 62.07 65.00 11.84 10.66 Steady 4.70 5.15 Steady Steady 2.65 53.16
Ambrolauri (Mun.) 62.07 61.87 15.03 11.74 Steady 4.01 2.93 Steady Steady 4.42 46.84
Tsageri 59.71 55.11 21.28 11.33 Steady 4.37 2.64 Steady Steady 5.27 33.83
Lentekhi 63.03 60.45 6.43 7.34 Steady 2.00 5.11 Steady Steady 18.67 53.11
Mestia 60.34 56.35 15.01 11.28 3.60 1.50 1.66 4.42 Steady 6.18 41.34
Kharagauli 62.71 54.92 16.84 5.52 3.65 1.58 9.07 3.32 Steady 5.10 38.08
Terjola 59.25 50.02 34.09 10.74 Steady 1.81 0.96 1.30 Steady 1.08 15.93
Sachkhere 51.16 82.89 5.29 5.63 2.79 1.35 1.23 Steady Steady 0.82 77.26
Zestafoni 43.74 51.83 20.48 12.59 1.68 4.05 4.29 2.29 Steady 2.79 31.35
Baghdati 56.07 48.26 29.79 10.21 Steady 4.72 1.40 4.31 Steady 1.31 18.47
Vani 58.93 52.57 16.38 26.90 Steady 1.81 0.60 1.05 Steady 0.69 25.67
Samtredia 45.54 56.43 24.62 9.09 1.36 2.01 0.68 0.25 Steady 5.56 31.81
Khoni 63.89 49.66 37.21 4.53 5.04 1.41 1.22 Steady Steady 0.93 12.45
Chiatura 43.84 56.64 16.38 7.43 4.47 2.49 3.08 5.76 Steady 3.75 40.26
Tkibuli 50.64 41.23 25.12 23.07 5.45 1.91 2.75 Steady Steady 0.47 16.11
Tskaltubo 43.46 49.82 31.48 9.50 Steady 5.31 1.34 1.30 Steady 1.25 18.34
Kutaisi* 30.67 48.50 26.37 10.19 4.96 4.63 2.50 0.76 Steady 2.09 22.13
Ozurgeti (City)* 53.94 43.37 11.81 13.11 15.13 4.66 2.70 6.56 Steady 2.66 28.24
Ozurgeti (Mun.) 53.94 58.63 16.75 8.15 9.82 3.44 1.60 0.44 Steady 1.17 41.88
Lanchkhuti 60.70 50.79 14.77 7.75 15.23 3.64 2.33 Steady Steady 5.49 35.56
Chokhatauri 64.08 59.56 14.24 7.08 12.44 1.86 0.87 Steady Steady 3.95 45.32
Abasha 63.07 43.97 29.30 8.11 2.50 2.48 2.95 4.71 Steady 5.98 14.67
Senaki 48.82 50.51 25.33 13.12 Steady 5.15 0.93 1.49 Steady 3.47 25.18
Martvili 64.88 45.49 21.28 21.87 Steady 1.60 5.09 Steady Steady 4.67 23.62
Khobi 57.60 56.46 25.75 8.94 Steady 2.70 5.44 0.68 Steady 0.03 30.71
Zugdidi (City)* 38.79 53.81 34.37 4.39 Steady 1.65 3.20 0.29 Steady 2.29 19.44
Zugdidi (Mun.) 38.79 51.59 40.48 3.12 Steady 1.15 2.18 Steady Steady 1.48 11.11
Tsalenjikha 48.40 57.07 30.22 5.52 Steady 2.04 0.89 Steady Steady 4.26 26.85
Chkhorotsqu 60.82 49.77 31.35 8.33 6.22 2.13 2.18 Steady Steady 0.02 18.42
Poti* 43.38 40.22 20.19 12.54 14.66 3.23 2.56 3.06 Steady 3.54 20.03
Batumi* 36.57 42.46 18.73 8.82 9.85 2.74 1.24 5.22 Steady 10.94 23.73
Keda 65.10 54.39 22.29 17.26 3.01 1.26 0.98 Steady Steady 0.81 32.10
Kobuleti 49.03 45.36 23.79 8.82 14.82 2.60 0.63 1.23 Steady 2.75 21.57
Shuakhevi 58.08 58.35 18.74 8.44 4.36 3.13 1.21 Steady Steady 5.77 39.61
Khelvachauri 41.30 52.65 18.61 16.24 4.60 3.10 1.10 0.73 Steady 2.97 34.04
Khulo 59.05 58.10 18.72 8.69 8.09 1.61 1.57 Steady Steady 3.22 39.38
Source: CEC CEC
  • ^* denotes a self-governing city.
  • ^† denotes a joint turnout statistic of the respective city and municipality.

See also

References

  1. ^ Corso, Molly (December 26, 2012). "Georgia: Political Tumult Hits Regions". EurasiaNet's Weekly Digest. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  2. ^ Corso, Molly (February 7, 2013). "A potential split in Georgian Dream gives Saakashvili's party hope". Business New Europe. Archived from the original on 10 February 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  3. ^ Whitmore, Brian (April 28, 2013). "Saakashvili's National Movement Fights To Escape Political Wilderness". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  4. ^ "15 June 2014 Local Elections. Preliminary results" (in Georgian).
  5. ^ a b Local Elections: GD leads but run-off votes will be held Archived 2014-06-20 at the Wayback Machine Georgia Today. 21 June 2014. Accessed 21 June 2014.
  6. ^ a b Local Elections Boost Alliance of Patriots' Ambitions for Parliamentary Polls Archived 2016-10-13 at the Wayback Machine Civil Georgia. 21 June 2014. Accessed 21 June 2014
  7. ^ "15 June 2014 Local Elections. Second round results" (in Georgian).
  8. ^ "15 June 2014 Local Elections. Proportional results by municipality" (in Georgian).