Erdoğan congratulates Georgian PM Kobakhidze on parliamentary election success

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has extended his congratulations to Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze following the victory of the “Georgian Dream” party in the parliamentary elections held on October 26.

According to reports from Georgian media, this announcement was made by the press service of the Georgian government, Caliber.Az reports. 

In his congratulatory message, Erdoğan expressed his sincere congratulations to the “Georgian Dream” party under Kobakhidze's leadership for securing first place in the parliamentary elections. He expressed hope that the election results would bring success to the people of Georgia and the region.

Erdoğan also noted his pleasure that the elections, which reflected the will of the Georgian people, were conducted in a calm and secure environment. He wished the Georgian Prime Minister good health and prosperity and happiness to the people of Georgia.

In recent development, Georgia has completed its 11th parliamentary election since regaining independence in 1991, with preliminary results from the Central Election Commission (CEC) indicating a lead for the ruling Georgian Dream Party.

On October 26, at 10:00 PM local time, the CEC reported that Georgian Dream received 52.99% of the votes (935,004), followed by the Coalition for Change with 11.2% (197,619 votes) and Unity-UNM with 9.83% (173,510 votes). Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and honorary founder Bidzina Ivanishvili celebrated what they claim is their fourth consecutive victory at party headquarters in Tbilisi.

However, President Salome Zourabichvili has contested these unofficial results, asserting on social media that pro-EU opposition parties achieved 52% of the vote despite reported electoral irregularities, with overseas ballots still pending. 

She noted, “European Georgia is winning with 52% despite attempts to rig elections and without votes from the diaspora.”

Reports suggest that the main opposition blocs, including Unity to Save Georgia and the Coalition for Change, received between 11-17% and 12-18% of the votes, respectively.

By Aghakazim Guliyev