Georgian Dream claims landslide victory in municipal elections amid opposition boycott

Georgia’s ruling party, Georgian Dream – Democratic Georgia, has declared a sweeping victory in the country’s municipal elections, securing more than 80% of the vote in all municipalities, including the capital Tbilisi, according to preliminary data released on Saturday evening.

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced the results, expressing gratitude for what he called an “unprecedented level of public trust.”

“We deeply appreciate this confidence from our people and will do everything possible to justify it,” Kobakhidze said at a briefing, adding that the elections were conducted peacefully and without pressure.

According to the Central Election Commission (CEC), voter turnout reached 33.5% by 17:00, with 1,175,817 citizens casting their ballots out of 3.5 million registered voters — a figure notably lower than in previous local and parliamentary elections.

Preliminary results indicate that Georgian Dream is leading in both mayoral and municipal assembly races across the country. In Tbilisi, incumbent mayor Kakha Kaladze reportedly leads with over 71% of the vote after counting nearly three-quarters of ballots.

Exit polls commissioned by Imedi TV suggested an even stronger result: 81.6% nationwide support for Georgian Dream and 77.4% for Kaladze in the Tbilisi mayoral race. Opposition parties, including Strong Georgia – Lelo, Girchi, and Conservative Georgia, trailed far behind, each securing between 3% and 7%.

Ivanishvili and Kobakhidze celebrate victory

Georgian Dream’s honorary chairman Bidzina Ivanishvili hailed the outcome as a “truly impressive victory,” thanking voters for what he described as the nation’s “awakening and unity.”

“We are a talented nation that has stumbled at times but always regains its strength. Through unity, we are gradually restoring our sovereignty,” Ivanishvili said, warning against “foreign influence” and “agent networks” that he claimed threaten Georgia’s independence.

At party headquarters, Kobakhidze congratulated Georgian Dream candidates, calling the results a mandate for the country’s “irreversible and stable development.”

He also commented on the unrest near the presidential palace, where clashes broke out earlier in the evening between protesters and police.

“Those who attacked the presidential palace should pray. Anyone who raises a hand against a police officer will face strict consequences,” the prime minister warned, noting that several officers were injured, one seriously.

Opposition boycott and limited monitoring

The elections took place amid a boycott by eight major opposition parties, which denounced the vote as a “farce” and a “Russian operation” designed to legitimise the ruling party. They urged supporters to abstain from voting and gather for protests in Tbilisi.

International monitoring was significantly reduced compared to previous years, with just 81 international observers from 55 organisations accredited — down from over 1,000 in 2021. The OSCE/ODIHR declined to send a mission, citing concerns over the electoral environment.

More than 7,000 domestic observers monitored the vote, though local media reported that most represented organisations close to the ruling party.

Despite these controversies, officials hailed the elections as orderly and transparent, noting that over 90% of polling stations were equipped with electronic voting machines and only minor procedural incidents were reported.