2021 Georgian local elections

2021 Georgian local elections
← 2017 2 October 2021 (first round)
30 October 2021 (second round)		 2025 →
Turnout51.92% (first round)
49.09% (second round)
 
Party Georgian Dream UNM For Georgia
Popular vote 824,755 541,188 137,764
Percentage 46.75% 30.67% 7.81%
 
Party Lelo European Georgia Alliance of Patriots
Popular vote 47,861 29,251 25,697
Percentage 2.71% 1.66% 1.46%

The 2021 Georgian local elections (Georgian: საქართველოს ადგილობრივი თვითმმართველობის ორგანოების არჩევნები) were held on 2 and 30 October to elect the bodies of local government of Georgia.

Background

19 April agreement

On 19 April 2021, the ruling Georgian Dream party and the opposition signed an agreement, which ended a six-month political crisis stemming from the contested 2020 parliamentary elections. The agreement stipulated snap parliamentary elections if the Georgian Dream party would garner less than 43% of the vote in the October 2021 local elections. It also envisaged a change in the electoral system at the local level: 4:1 proportion of proportional and majoritarian seats in five major cities and 2:1 proportion in all others. At the same time, a 3% threshold was set in the proportional system in the regions and a 2.5% threshold in Tbilisi. The 40% demand was set in the majoritarian system. The Georgian Parliament adopted relevant amendments to the Election Code on June 28, 2021.

Most parties signed the agreement, and elected opposition MPs took up their parliamentary mandates which they had refused until then. However, the largest opposition party United National Movement refused to join the agreement, which later led to Georgian Dream withdrawing from the agreement two months before the October 2021 local elections. According to the head of the Georgian Dream party Irakli Kobakhidze, the agreement "failed to accomplish its goals" because of the UNM's refusal to join it.[1][2]

Arrest of Mikheil Saakashvili

Former President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili, who left Georgia in 2013 and was condemned by the Tbilisi City Court to six years in prison in absentia for abuse of power, embezzlement, and his implication in the attempted murder of an opposition MP,[3] announced his return to Georgia on 1 October 2021, on the eve of the local elections.[4] Saakashvili went live on Facebook and called on his followers to march on the capital, Tbilisi. Some government officials initially denied Saakashvili's arrival and said that he was in Ukraine. However, later on the same day Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili held press briefing, where he announced that Saakashvili was arrested in Tbilisi. According to the investigation, Saakashvili entered the country secretly, hiding in a semi-trailer truck loaded with milk products. He illegally crossed the state border of Georgia, bypassing the customs control.[5]

Electoral system

Local self-government is the right and ability of citizens of Georgia to solve, within the legislation of Georgia, local issues through local authorities elected by them. There are two types of self-governing units (municipalities): self-governing cities and self-governing communities. A self-governing city is a settlement of an urban category, while a self-governing community is an aggregation of several settlements with administrative boundaries and an administrative center. There are 5 self-governing cities and 59 self-governing communities. Self-governing cities are Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Batumi, Rustavi, Poti. The representative bodies (a representative council, in Georgian Sakrebulo) and a mayor, the head of the executive bodies, are directly elected by the citizens of Georgia registered in a self-governing unit to a four-year term. Members of Sakrebulos of the self-governing communities and the self-governing cities are elected through the majoritarian and proportional electoral systems. The election date is appointed by the President of Georgia 60 days prior to the polls and countersigned by Prime Minister.[6]

The Annex No. 1 to the сurrent Election Code regulates the compositions of Sakrebulos of self-governing communities and self-governing cities, except the Tbilisi Sakrebulo, which is composed of 50 members, out of which 10 members are elected in the territory of local single-seat majoritarian electoral districts, and 40 are elected through the proportional electoral system in the whole territory of Tbilisi municipality.

Compositions of Sakrebulos of self-governing communities and self-governing cities (except for Tbilisi City) according to the Annex No. 1 to the Election Code:

Electoral District Majoritarian Electoral System Proportional Electoral System Total
Batumi Electoral District 7 28 35
Kutaisi Electoral District 7 28 35
Rustavi Electoral District 7 28 35
Poti Electoral District 7 28 35
Sagarejo Electoral District 13 26 39
Gurjaani Electoral District 13 26 39
Sighnaghi Electoral District 12 24 36
Dedoplistsqaro Electoral District 10 20 30
Lagodekhi Electoral District 10 20 30
Kvareli Electoral District 9 18 27
Telavi Electoral District 13 26 39
Akhmeta Electoral District 10 20 30
Tianeti Electoral District 9 18 27
Gardabani Electoral District 12 24 36
Marneuli Electoral District 11 22 33
Bolnisi Electoral District 12 24 36
Dmanisi Electoral District 10 20 30
Tsalka Electoral District 10 20 30
Tetritsqaro Electoral District 12 24 36
Mtskheta Electoral District 9 18 27
Dusheti Electoral District 11 22 33
Kazbegi Electoral District 6 12 18
Kaspi Electoral District 10 20 30
Gori Electoral District 12 24 36
Kareli Electoral District 9 18 27
Khashuri Electoral District 9 18 27
Borjomi Electoral District 11 22 33
Akhaltsikhe Electoral District 13 26 39
Adigeni Electoral District 11 22 33
Aspindza Electoral District 10 20 30
Akhalkalaki Electoral District 14 28 42
Ninotsminda Electoral District 10 20 30
Oni Electoral District 11 22 33
Ambrolauri Electoral District 10 20 30
Tsageri Electoral District 10 20 30
Lentekhi Electoral District 7 14 21
Mestia Electoral District 11 22 33
Kharagauli Electoral District 11 22 33
Terjola Electoral District 10 20 30
Sachkhere Electoral District 11 22 33
Zestafoni Electoral District 13 26 39
Baghdati Electoral District 9 18 27
Vani Electoral District 10 20 30
Samtredia Electoral District 11 22 33
Khoni Electoral District 10 20 30
Chiatura Electoral District 12 24 36
Tkibuli Electoral District 9 18 27
Tskaltubo Electoral District 13 26 39
Ozurgeti Electoral District 15 14 30
Lanchkhuti Electoral District 9 18 27
Chokhatauri Electoral District 12 24 36
Abasha Electoral District 10 20 30
Senaki Electoral District 11 22 33
Martvili Electoral District 12 24 36
Zugdidi Electoral District 15 30 45
Khobi Electoral District 12 24 36
Tsalenjikha Electoral District 9 18 27
Chkhorotsku Electoral District 9 18 27
Keda Electoral District 7 14 21
Kobuleti Electoral District 13 26 39
Shuakhevi Electoral District 7 14 21
Khelvachauri Electoral District 8 16 24
Khulo Electoral District 8 16 24
Overall 654 1,364 2,018

2021 Tbilisi mayoral election

2021 Tbilisi mayoral election
← 2017 2 October 2021 (first round)
30 October 2021 (second round)		 2025 →
Turnout49.11% (first round)
47.74% (second round)
 
Nominee Kakha Kaladze Nika Melia Giorgi Gakharia
Party Georgian Dream UNM For Georgia
Popular vote 216,344 163,489 45,257
Percentage 45.01% 34.01% 9.41%
 
Nominee Ana Dolidze Ana Bibilashvili Giorgi Lomia
Party For the People Lelo APG
Popular vote 21,935 12,161 7,033
Percentage 4.56% 2.53% 1.46%

The 2021 Tbilisi mayoral election (Georgian: თბილისის მერის არჩევნები) was held on 2 and 30 October 2021 to elect the Mayor of Tbilisi in parallel to the Tbilisi City Sakrebulo elections.

The main candidates for the mayoral election were Kakha Kaladze, the incumbent Mayor of Tbilisi and former Minister of Energy from the ruling Georgian Dream party, Nika Melia, Member of Parliament from the United National Movement, and Giorgi Gakharia, former Prime Minister and Minister of Internal Affairs from the recently established For Georgia party.

In total, 16 candidates were nominated for the Tbilisi mayoral election.[7]

CandidatePartyFirst roundSecond round
Votes%Votes%
Kakha KaladzeGeorgian Dream216,34445.01258,77655.61
Nika MeliaUnited National Movement163,48934.01206,59344.39
Giorgi GakhariaFor Georgia45,2579.41
Ana DolidzeFor the People21,9354.56
Ana BibilashviliLelo12,1612.53
Giorgi LomiaAlliance of Patriots7,0331.46
Mikheil KumsishviliLabour Party3,9160.81
Arinze Richard OgbunujuOur United Georgia2,9220.61
Tamar KekenadzeStrategy Aghmashenebeli2,8310.59
Zaza KhatiashviliFree Georgia1,7200.36
Giorgi GachechiladzeGreen Party9140.19
Giorgi KutateladzeGeorgia6470.13
Giorgi LaghidzeFuture Georgia4750.10
Evgeny GhviniashviliWorkers Socialist Party3990.08
Teimuraz BobokhidzeFatherland3440.07
Ketevan NakashidzeFor the Social Justice3090.06
Total480,696100.00465,369100.00
Valid votes480,69697.32465,36996.90
Invalid/blank votes13,2362.6814,8673.10
Total votes493,932100.00480,236100.00
Registered voters/turnout1,002,90049.251,002,52547.90
Source: CEC, CEC

Opinion polls

Date Pollster GD UNM For Georgia Girchi MF EG Lelo SA Labour Party Patriots Girchi Citizens Others/NA Lead
September 2021 Edison Research 36% 27% 11% 4% 2% 4% 2% 4% 2% 2% 1% 5% 9%
September 2021 IPSOS 35% 30% 9% 2% 4% 3% 3% 3% 2% Steady 1% 8% 5%
September 2021 Edison Research 33% 25% 10% 4% 2% 3% 2% 6% 3% 2% 1% 8% 8%
August 2021 GORBI Archived 2021-09-05 at the Wayback Machine 47.2% 26.8% 6.9% 2.4% 1.4% 2.6% 2.1% 1.2% 3.4% 0.8% 1.6% 3.6% 20.4%
July 2021 Edison Research 32% 24% 13% 2% 1% 4% 4% 3% 3% 2% 2% 13% 8%
July 2021 IPSOS 32% 23% 8% 5% 3% 2% 2% 3% 3% 1% 2% 16% 9%

Results

Municipality Turnout GD UNM FG Lelo EG APG GMF GLP SA FUG Others Lead
Tbilisi* 49.11 40.40 27.96 8.89 3.63 1.16 1.65 3.30 1.31 1.01 Steady 10.69 12.44
Sagarejo 47.90 56.03 31.78 2.13 3.77 0.90 1.77 0.93 1.31 0.74 Steady 1.54 24.25
Gurjaani 55.69 51.06 32.88 4.47 1.94 3.75 1.58 0.75 1.75 1.09 Steady 0.73 18.18
Sighnaghi 56.67 53.69 33.75 3.90 1.63 0.90 1.63 0.83 1.81 0.92 Steady 0.94 19.94
Dedoplistskaro 55.73 62.58 23.96 1.99 2.61 1.55 Steady 1.02 1.44 Steady Steady 4.85 38.62
Lagodekhi 51.57 47.08 37.36 3.09 1.36 1.75 1.30 0.79 1.42 4.99 Steady 0.86 9.72
Kvareli 59.46 50.25 35.99 5.54 2.83 0.41 1.65 Steady 1.22 1.04 Steady 1.07 14.26
Telavi 54.80 44.65 40.33 5.27 2.40 1.19 1.21 Steady 2.13 1.67 Steady 1.15 4.32
Akhmeta 49.76 46.44 41.33 3.07 1.82 0.60 2.49 Steady 2.47 0.66 Steady 1.12 5.11
Tianeti 58.29 42.94 18.74 7.17 1.18 1.10 1.82 Steady 1.68 2.03 22.52 0.82 20.42
Rustavi* 48.70 36.23 38.35 7.44 2.28 1.04 2.21 2.59 1.87 1.39 Steady 6.60 2.12
Gardabani 42.75 56.38 34.66 2.18 1.54 0.69 1.59 Steady 0.98 0.70 Steady 1.28 21.72
Marneuli 47.29 64.75 26.50 1.38 Steady 2.21 0.37 Steady 2.23 2.20 Steady 0.36 38.25
Bolnisi 43.56 68.16 24.57 1.91 1.01 0.19 0.99 1.69 0.48 0.40 Steady 0.60 42.59
Dmanisi 57.23 49.49 42.16 0.44 0.98 1.04 0.67 Steady 0.41 Steady Steady 4.81 7.33
Tsalka 45.18 53.10 21.70 5.92 2.05 2.02 0.63 Steady 0.63 3.10 Steady 10.85 31.40
Tetritskaro 50.54 54.07 27.66 4.45 3.95 1.38 2.38 Steady 1.53 1.78 Steady 2.80 26.41
Mtskheta 56.37 51.36 31.80 5.26 1.73 0.56 2.73 1.30 1.92 0.99 Steady 2.35 19.56
Dusheti 47.02 53.07 20.88 9.58 4.00 2.91 3.12 Steady 3.90 Steady Steady 2.54 32.19
Kazbegi 63.27 48.32 6.56 4.59 3.11 0.49 3.37 Steady 1.17 1.63 13.98 16.78 34.34
Kaspi 51.39 47.78 34.27 7.67 1.42 0.89 3.14 Steady 1.77 0.64 Steady 2.42 13.51
Gori 51.12 48.45 31.74 10.26 2.12 0.94 1.77 1.34 1.66 0.81 Steady 0.91 16.71
Kareli 51.77 44.29 36.64 7.58 4.20 1.07 1.69 0.87 1.67 0.88 Steady 1.11 7.65
Khashuri 51.26 41.69 32.72 10.63 3.97 0.72 1.67 1.53 1.92 1.70 Steady 3.45 8.97
Borjomi 54.50 55.99 24.15 3.75 2.58 2.02 4.18 Steady 1.67 1.26 Steady 4.40 31.84
Akhaltsikhe 60.09 54.78 28.88 6.44 2.12 3.00 0.71 Steady 2.31 0.73 Steady 1.03 25.90
Adigeni 67.80 56.40 35.10 2.48 2.39 1.43 0.89 Steady 1.32 Steady Steady Steady 21.30
Aspindza 71.08 61.27 24.59 2.24 3.17 3.40 1.91 Steady 1.05 1.72 Steady 0.65 36.68
Akhalkalaki 49.75 76.25 7.93 2.62 3.54 5.50 1.72 Steady 0.12 1.17 Steady 1.15 68.32
Ninotsminda 54.98 84.03 5.52 4.84 Steady 3.25 0.38 Steady 0.14 1.69 Steady 0.15 78.51
Oni 64.73 48.10 15.85 18.05 6.78 2.56 3.02 Steady Steady 1.14 Steady 4.50 32.25
Ambrolauri 66.99 55.46 18.91 13.21 3.31 2.31 1.65 Steady 2.22 1.37 Steady 1.56 36.55
Tsageri 63.84 48.57 20.86 13.62 5.95 1.47 1.58 Steady 3.03 4.75 Steady 0.17 27.71
Lentekhi 54.64 49.75 10.27 6.86 7.04 4.07 1.75 Steady 0.97 3.01 Steady 16.28 39.48
Mestia 62.39 61.71 11.88 7.35 6.12 3.35 1.36 0.44 0.99 1.25 Steady 6.55 49.83
Kharagauli 65.51 54.83 26.47 6.85 4.75 1.47 2.10 Steady 1.70 1.63 Steady 0.20 28.36
Terjola 61.28 46.94 30.04 5.37 2.53 8.79 1.31 0.75 1.55 1.97 Steady 0.75 16.90
Sachkhere 58.27 80.23 6.83 4.93 2.83 1.04 1.31 1.12 0.73 0.78 Steady 0.20 73.40
Zestafoni 54.86 48.31 32.47 7.37 2.28 1.81 1.25 0.99 1.71 1.61 Steady 2.20 15.84
Baghdati 57.42 47.27 33.94 5.19 3.04 2.49 1.19 1.24 1.54 1.24 Steady 2.86 13.33
Vani 59.77 59.96 27.41 2.06 1.59 4.82 0.77 Steady 1.31 1.06 Steady 1.02 32.55
Samtredia 53.41 52.24 30.53 3.99 3.50 1.85 1.11 0.81 1.21 2.83 Steady 1.93 21.71
Khoni 61.35 53.31 21.03 4.98 1.27 13.99 1.55 Steady 1.45 1.21 Steady 1.21 32.28
Chiatura 50.03 55.33 20.80 7.64 3.52 2.35 2.53 Steady 1.55 4.03 Steady 2.25 34.53
Tkibuli 56.26 48.46 34.97 4.88 3.69 1.36 1.68 1.02 1.38 2.00 Steady 0.56 13.49
Tskaltubo 51.58 44.72 39.73 4.21 2.55 1.84 1.53 0.66 1.44 2.18 Steady 1.14 4.99
Kutaisi* 44.53 39.15 37.56 6.71 2.02 1.12 1.21 1.63 1.72 3.31 Steady 5.57 1.59
Ozurgeti 59.58 50.44 25.88 9.29 2.11 1.90 1.33 1.07 1.60 1.33 Steady 5.05 24.56
Lanchkhuti 58.98 53.52 22.62 9.17 3.86 2.60 1.13 0.78 1.32 1.41 Steady 3.59 30.90
Chokhatauri 64.22 52.55 22.25 11.28 2.50 2.63 1.65 Steady 1.29 1.78 Steady 4.07 30.30
Abasha 63.42 42.87 30.62 8.27 2.24 1.39 0.93 Steady 3.16 2.07 Steady 8.45 12.25
Senaki 56.28 38.21 39.94 15.56 0.98 0.98 0.50 0.56 0.97 0.83 Steady 1.47 1.73
Martvili 63.75 36.53 30.02 17.10 0.83 2.73 0.48 Steady 0.46 2.51 Steady 9.34 6.51
Khobi 58.77 42.78 33.81 14.08 2.24 2.25 0.70 0.53 2.15 0.77 Steady 0.69 8.97
Zugdidi 43.90 40.02 43.11 10.74 1.44 1.04 0.48 0.72 0.71 0.64 Steady 1.10 3.09
Tsalenjikha 51.11 34.79 37.78 18.97 3.35 2.15 0.74 Steady 0.71 0.66 Steady 0.85 2.98
Chkhorotsku 61.69 34.02 32.12 23.19 3.21 1.31 0.61 Steady 0.48 1.68 Steady 3.38 1.90
Poti* 52.01 41.76 31.41 13.19 1.84 2.36 0.65 1.58 1.36 1.28 Steady 4.57 10.35
Batumi* 52.36 39.82 38.41 10.03 3.29 0.99 1.21 1.58 0.92 1.08 Steady 2.67 1.41
Keda 71.93 51.52 30.66 6.68 3.31 2.60 1.88 0.46 1.43 0.79 Steady 0.67 20.86
Kobuleti 56.34 48.25 38.06 7.43 1.53 0.46 0.91 0.61 0.60 1.01 Steady 1.14 10.19
Shuakhevi 66.25 45.99 34.97 7.77 3.79 2.06 2.27 0.49 0.50 1.12 Steady 1.04 11.02
Khelvachauri 58.31 41.18 35.87 15.08 1.97 1.82 1.12 0.68 0.88 0.63 Steady 0.77 5.31
Khulo 61.61 46.39 34.96 6.42 4.08 2.07 0.70 0.52 0.35 3.16 Steady 1.35 11.43
Source: CEC CEC

^* denotes a self-governing city.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Ruling Georgian Dream leaves EU-mediated agreement". Agenda.ge. 28 July 2021. Archived from the original on 30 June 2021. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
  2. ^ "Georgian Dream Quits EU-brokered Deal". Civil.ge. 2021-07-28. Retrieved 2022-01-05.
  3. ^ "Saakashvili Convicted Of Abuse Of Power, Sentenced In Absentia". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 29 June 2018. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
  4. ^ "Georgia Arrests Ex-President Saakashvili After He Returns From Exile". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 1 October 2021. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
  5. ^ "Prosecution Service of Georgia Issues Indictment against Convict Mikheil Saakashvili for Illegal Crossing of State Border of Georgia". Prosecution Service of Georgia. 20 October 2021. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
  6. ^ "ადგილობრივი თვითმმართველობის კოდექსი [Code of Local Self-Government]". Organic law No. 1958-IIს of 5 February 2014 (in Georgian). Retrieved 5 September 2021.
  7. ^ [1][permanent dead link]
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