GEORGIA: Exit pools predict that ruling coalition's Georgy Margvelashvili is set to win the presidential election with two-thirds of the vote

Record ID: 643297

  • Title: GEORGIA: Exit pools predict that ruling coalition's Georgy Margvelashvili is set to win the presidential election with two-thirds of the vote
  • Date: 27th October 2013
  • Summary: TBILISI, GEORGIA (OCTOBER 27, 2013) (REUTERS) (NIGHTSHOTS) EVENING TRAFFIC ON CENTRAL AVENUE WOMAN DRAPED IN GEORGIAN DREAM FLAG WALKING IN STREET CAR WITH GEORGIAN DREAM FLAG DRIVING DOWN STREET (SOUNDBITE) (Georgian) TBILISI RESIDENT TAMARA OBARIDZE, SAYING: "I think these results are real, and I think that Margvelashvili's 67 percent is a real figure." TRUCK WITH GEO
  • Embargoed: 11th November 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Georgia
  • Country: Georgia
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA5RIQT4FER1B2YB6HGVQ990OMI
  • Story Text: Georgy Margvelashvili, an ally of billionaire Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, won a landslide victory in a presidential election in Georgia on Sunday (October 27), exit polls showed.
    The little-known former deputy premier's triumph cements the Georgian Dream coalition's grip on power following Mikheil Saakashvili's 10-year rule, although it is unlikely to end political uncertainty in the former Soviet republic.
    His victory will put Georgian Dream in charge of both the presidency and the government for the first time, a year after it ousted Saakashvili's cabinet at the polls.
    GfK, a leading European market research group, put Margvelashvili on 66.7 percent of votes cast on Sunday. ACT, a Georgian public opinion research group, gave him 68 percent.
    "The exit poll estimate of the presidential poll by candidate is: Margvelashvili 67 percent, Bakradze 20 percent, Burjanadze 8 percent," said Vadim Volos, vice president of GfK.
    On a central avenue in Tbilisi, while cars with Georgian Dream flags raced by honking their horns, people polled by Reuters said the results were expected.
    "I think these results are real, and I think that Margvelashvili's 67 percent is a real figure," said Tbilisi resident Tamara Obaridze.
    Voter David Gotichashvili said he was happy with the result.
    "Georgy Margvelashvili has probably won, there is information that he has won, and we just welcome that," he said.
    Tbilisi resident Nino said the exit poll results were predictable and did not think they would differ much from the official results to be released hours later.
    "I think it's a fair result, and it was expected. I didn't expect a run-off. And I don't expect it to be held," Nino said.
    Both exit polls put Margvelashvili's nearest rival, former parliamentary speaker and Saakashvili ally David Bakradze, on around 20 percent. Margvelashvili had required only one vote over 50 percent to secure victory outright and avert a run-off.
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