Presidential elections were held in Georgia on 28 October 2018. As no candidate received more than 50% of the vote in the first round, a runoff between Salome Zourabichvili and Grigol Vashadze was held on 28 November 2018. Salome Zourabichvili won with around 60% of the vote in the second round and took office on 16 December 2018.

Following amendments to the constitution in 2017, the 2018 elections were the last direct presidential vote; subsequential presidential elections were carried out by a 300-member College of Electors. In view of these changes, the President was elected for a term of six years in 2018.

Background The pre-election period was marred by a polarized political environment and a series of secret tape recordings aired by the pro-opposition Rustavi 2 TV, leading to allegations of kidnappings and torture by investigators to secure convictions, pressure and coercion on businesses and media, high-level corruption, and selective justice.

Candidates 46 people applied to participate in the elections, 21 of which were rejected by the Election Administration of Georgia. 25 presidential candidates were registered by the Election Administration of Georgia. This is the largest number since Georgia's first presidential election in 1991. All 25 candidates were included on the ballot paper. +NameOccupationNominated by1Mikheil AntadzeProfessorState for the People Movement2Davit BakradzeMember of Parliament European Georgia4Vakhtang GabuniaPoliticianChristian-Democratic Movement5Grigol VashadzeFormer Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia (2008-2012)United National Movement10Shalva NatelashviliLeader of Georgian Labour PartyGeorgian Labour Party13Zviad MekhatishviliPoliticianChristian-Conservative Party of Georgia17Giorgi LiluashviliVice President of Georgian National AcademyParty Georgia18Akaki AsatianiPoliticianUnion of Georgian Traditionalists21Kakha KukavaPoliticianFree Georgia22Otar MeunargiaIndustry Will Save Georgia23Irakli GorgadzeUnemployedMovement for a Free Georgia25David UsupashviliLeader of Development Movement, former chairman of the Parliament of GeorgiaFree Democrats27Zviad Baghdavadze UnemployedCivic Platform – New Georgia28Mikheil SaluashviliPolitician Union of Justice Restoration of the Nation: The Lord Is Our Truth30Zviad IashviliUnemployedNational-Democratic Party31Tamar TskhoragauliEntrepreneur Political Movement Freedom – Zviad Gamsakhurdia's Way 35Gela KhutsishviliPoliticianPolitical Movement of the Veterans and Patriots of Georgia36Zurab JaparidzeLeader of GirchiGirchi40Levan ChkheidzeChkheidze and Partners Law FirmNew Christian-Democrats48Salome ZourabichviliMember of Parliament Initiative Group of Voters49Besarion TediashviliFounder of TF ConstructionInitiative Group of Voters51Giorgi AndriadzeDeputy Chairperson of the Commission for Learning Christian Theology and History of Religion at the Georgian Academy of SciencesInitiative Group of Voters58Kakhaber ChichinadzeEntrepreneurInitiative Group of Voters62Director of Publishing House ParagraphInitiative Group of Voters65Teimuraz ShashiashviliUnemployedInitiative Group of Voters

Withdrawn Democratic Movement Nino Burjanadze, Georgian politician and lawyer who served as Chairman of Parliament of Georgia (2001-2008). She has served as the acting President of Georgia twice. She backed out of the election on 8 September.

Declined Independent Giorgi Margvelashvili, incumbent president, officially refused to take part in the election in late August.

Opinion polls +From 2018PollsterDateBakradzeVashadzeZourabichviliNatelashviliUsupashviliJaparidzeBurjanadzeTBD MargvelashviliElisashviliKukavaNone of the Above EXIT POLLS:BCG 28.10.18 17%37%34% 5% - - - - - - - - EXIT POLLS:Psychoportrait 28.10.18 9% 28%52% 2% 2% 3% - - - - - - EXIT POLLS:Edison Research 28.10.18 10%40%40% 3% 2% 3% - - - - - - Election day (28 October) BCG 20.10.18-24.10.1830% 27%33% 4% 2% - - - - - - - Edison Research 15.10.18-24.10.18 16%37%32% 6% - - - - - - - 8% IPN, Ambebi.ge, Kvirispalitra.ge 24.10.18 5%27%31% 3% 11% 5% - - - - - 18% Edison Research 25.09.18-4.10.18 15%31%16% 7% 3% - - - - - - 21% BCG 15–22 September 201829%28% 21% 10% 6% - - - - - - 6% Edison Research 3–23 September 201818%22% 15% 8% 3% 2% - - - - -32% Primary August–September 201818.9%43.9% 8.8% 5.7% 2.1% - - - - 3.9% 8% - Newposts August 201815%25% 12% 4% 2% - - - - - - 33% Allnews 2 August 2018 5%18%19% - - - 8% - 6% 10% -30% Metronome August 2018 5%37% 8% 2% 3%27% 3% - 2% 2% - 8% NDI 23.06.18 —08.07.18 6%10%12% 4% - - - - 6% - - - IRI 01.04.18 —22.04.1816% 8%17% 1% - - - 3% 10% - - -

Second round Poll source Date(s)administeredVashadzeUNMZourabichviliIndependent Undecided EXIT POLLS:Gallup International 28.11.18 43% 57% - EXIT POLLS:Edison Research 28.11.18 45% 55% - Second round (28 November) Edison Research 12–18 November 2018 52% 48% - Pollitic 18–25 November 2018 70% 30% - Gallup International 16–18 November 2018 48% 52% - Edison Research 1–9 November 2018 41% 36% 23% First round (28 October) BCG 20–24 October 2018 39% 27% - Edison Research 15–24 October 2018 44% 29% 27% BCG 15–22 September 2018 40% 19% 40% Edison Research 14–23 September 2018 50% 24% 26%

Approval ratings

Date Pollster Sample size Apr 2018 IRI 1,500 March 2018 NDI 2,194 Giorgi Kvirikashvili N/O 41 52 7 25 16 58 David Bakradze N/O 53 40 7 34 18 47 Grigol Vashadze N/O 32 52 16 15 21 64 Giorgi Margvelashvili N/O 52 42 6 26 18 57 Shalva Natelashvili N/O 34 58 8 – – – Nino Burjanadze N/O 23 73 4 – – –

Results

By territory Territory First round Second round Turnout Zourabichvili Vashadze Bakradze Natelashvili Usupashvili Japaridze Others Lead Turnout Zourabichvili Vashadze Lead Mtatsminda 50.59 37.62 31.32 7.95 2.98 6.49 7.14 6.50 6.30 60.93 64.34 35.66 28.68 Vake 51.98 37.15 29.38 6.68 2.88 8.05 8.57 7.29 7.77 63.41 66.05 33.95 32.10 Saburtalo 50.07 37.55 30.41 6.84 3.48 7.12 7.33 7.27 7.14 61.34 65.61 34.39 31.22 Krtsanisi 41.79 37.12 38.27 7.38 4.06 3.24 4.03 5.90 1.15 51.74 59.57 40.43 19.14 Isani 40.36 31.99 39.15 9.88 4.63 3.48 4.38 6.49 7.16 50.23 56.94 43.06 13.88 Samgori 40.93 29.89 41.95 9.11 5.63 2.96 4.00 6.46 12.06 51.41 56.41 43.59 12.82 Chughureti 46.28 38.99 33.56 7.28 4.27 4.34 5.36 6.20 5.43 55.82 63.37 36.63 26.74 Didube 50.81 38.58 30.96 6.53 3.70 5.64 6.97 7.62 7.62 60.63 64.98 35.02 29.96 Nadzaladevi 43.35 33.40 36.63 7.81 5.60 3.91 5.13 7.52 3.23 54.82 61.74 38.26 23.48 Gldani 42.98 29.84 40.23 9.38 5.86 3.37 4.57 6.75 10.39 52.84 56.74 43.26 13.48 Sagarejo 39.72 40.27 36.66 12.09 4.31 1.14 0.64 4.89 3.61 49.30 62.49 37.51 24.98 Gurjaani 54.87 39.78 34.60 16.79 3.94 1.45 0.66 2.78 5.18 62.25 61.95 38.05 23.90 Sighnaghi 48.61 39.95 37.49 11.16 4.22 3.63 1.00 2.55 2.46 60.42 61.48 38.52 22.96 Dedoplistskaro 50.37 52.89 26.35 11.27 4.51 1.66 0.64 2.68 26.54 57.26 67.91 32.09 35.82 Lagodekhi 45.20 33.59 45.04 14.18 3.28 0.71 0.54 2.66 11.45 53.01 51.72 48.28 3.44 Kvareli 57.49 40.46 44.03 7.88 2.95 1.20 0.54 2.94 3.57 63.30 52.76 47.24 5.52 Telavi 52.03 32.79 50.12 7.60 4.38 1.41 0.96 2.74 17.33 58.79 48.81 51.19 2.38 Akhmeta 46.86 33.25 45.99 9.89 6.59 1.22 0.55 2.51 12.74 55.20 52.84 47.16 5.68 Tianeti 47.99 45.86 27.79 11.38 9.55 1.27 1.05 3.10 18.07 52.72 68.21 31.79 36.42 Rustavi 45.08 24.33 47.13 10.15 5.62 2.73 3.90 6.14 22.80 53.49 48.49 51.51 3.02 Gardabani 37.31 40.23 42.63 8.28 3.71 0.76 0.76 3.63 2.40 48.10 55.08 44.92 10.16 Marneuli 36.47 47.57 39.22 10.52 0.73 0.19 0.13 1.64 8.35 51.91 58.08 41.92 16.16 Bolnisi 44.45 59.18 31.45 4.95 1.44 0.29 0.37 2.32 27.73 46.31 64.12 35.88 28.24 Dmanisi 49.25 48.43 39.71 6.62 1.62 1.15 0.21 2.26 8.72 52.76 67.20 32.80 34.40 Tsalka 38.94 54.58 30.38 10.25 1.14 0.39 0.31 2.95 24.20 43.12 62.03 37.97 24.06 Tetritskaro 46.93 48.67 33.43 8.60 4.13 1.02 0.71 3.44 15.24 54.44 66.54 33.46 33.08 Mtskheta 49.92 36.34 41.34 9.63 6.41 1.29 1.38 3.61 5.00 61.97 58.87 41.13 17.74 Dusheti 41.70 42.36 29.68 8.48 13.31 1.39 0.83 3.95 12.68 52.29 68.73 31.27 37.46 Kazbegi 37.33 55.11 16.97 11.42 8.70 1.05 0.94 5.81 38.14 47.27 79.34 20.66 58.68 Kaspi 45.09 39.27 39.64 10.24 5.76 1.16 0.85 3.08 0.37 57.20 62.66 37.34 25.32 Gori 45.58 34.61 42.50 11.79 4.57 1.62 1.36 3.55 7.89 61.03 61.99 38.01 23.98 Kareli 47.33 35.16 42.00 13.50 4.64 0.97 0.52 3.21 6.84 60.12 58.19 41.81 16.38 Khashuri 44.15 33.13 43.22 10.78 6.07 1.66 1.34 3.80 10.09 56.91 60.65 39.35 21.30 Borjomi 49.70 50.16 27.99 10.40 4.89 1.09 1.24 4.23 22.17 57.34 69.52 30.48 39.04 Akhaltsikhe 55.39 45.59 28.32 20.40 2.22 0.59 0.62 2.26 17.27 61.70 55.92 44.08 11.84 Adigeni 60.53 47.49 27.08 20.96 1.97 0.58 0.34 1.58 20.41 67.34 58.61 41.39 17.22 Aspindza 63.05 56.86 20.44 17.12 2.35 0.54 0.35 2.34 36.42 67.76 64.95 35.05 29.90 Akhalkalaki 44.21 59.46 23.31 14.81 0.28 0.11 0.08 1.95 36.15 52.07 63.66 36.34 27.32 Ninotsminda 46.20 59.16 21.45 15.94 0.20 0.07 0.16 3.02 37.71 57.22 64.07 35.93 28.14 Oni 53.81 50.40 24.75 14.17 3.99 1.74 0.75 4.20 25.65 58.54 68.65 31.35 37.30 Ambrolauri 61.17 50.12 27.79 10.35 4.55 1.44 0.61 5.14 22.33 63.50 69.65 30.35 39.30 Tsageri 56.84 47.42 27.66 17.92 2.93 0.68 0.37 3.02 19.76 60.42 65.43 34.57 30.86 Lentekhi 50.80 57.53 17.47 15.36 3.92 1.87 0.48 3.37 40.06 50.66 77.08 22.92 54.16 Mestia 52.21 57.23 20.95 14.59 3.14 0.61 0.43 3.05 36.28 58.96 76.55 23.45 53.10 Kharagauli 60.39 47.56 30.89 13.58 2.55 1.88 0.44 3.10 16.67 67.24 64.46 35.54 28.92 Terjola 56.94 37.65 27.95 27.71 2.59 0.93 0.43 2.74 9.70 63.57 55.43 44.57 10.86 Sachkhere 50.54 77.08 10.28 6.27 2.14 1.05 0.71 2.47 66.80 64.46 91.78 8.22 83.56 Zestaponi 47.36 35.51 38.55 16.21 3.90 1.49 0.77 3.57 3.04 56.56 58.63 41.37 17.26 Baghdati 55.02 37.89 38.33 16.42 2.88 1.24 0.70 2.54 0.44 60.10 54.33 45.67 8.66 Vani 57.47 46.66 26.43 21.91 1.86 0.51 0.31 2.32 20.23 59.99 63.39 36.61 26.78 Samtredia 46.77 37.45 41.40 12.69 3.38 0.96 0.53 3.59 3.95 58.30 61.48 38.52 22.96 Khoni 60.50 42.13 23.95 27.71 2.24 0.56 0.57 2.84 14.42 65.18 57.86 42.14 15.72 Chiatura 41.25 43.63 31.15 14.71 4.29 1.68 0.62 3.92 12.48 51.08 68.70 31.30 37.40 Tkibuli 50.79 35.82 46.83 8.41 2.92 2.36 0.63 3.03 11.01 57.48 54.16 45.84 8.32 Tskaltubo 49.49 32.93 48.21 11.37 2.71 0.87 0.65 3.26 15.28 56.79 52.72 47.28 5.44 Kutaisi 41.67 28.70 47.03 10.36 3.11 1.50 2.09 7.21 18.33 49.83 51.29 48.71 2.58 Ozurgeti 52.78 44.21 31.98 13.50 3.85 1.61 0.77 4.08 12.23 59.26 64.39 35.61 28.78 Lanchkhuti 53.69 47.13 23.61 20.13 3.82 1.26 0.66 3.39 23.52 60.65 67.93 32.07 35.86 Chokhatauri 59.40 48.32 28.69 15.71 2.42 1.83 0.47 2.56 19.63 64.11 65.91 34.09 31.82 Abasha 55.55 41.64 41.54 10.61 2.42 0.54 0.39 2.86 0.10 64.26 59.62 40.38 19.24 Senaki 47.57 32.34 48.84 11.81 2.94 0.71 0.43 2.93 16.50 56.03 52.64 47.36 5.28 Martvili 52.35 36.17 45.32 13.61 1.66 0.44 0.20 2.60 9.15 61.22 52.43 47.57 4.86 Khobi 54.70 43.94 35.40 13.02 2.67 1.17 0.40 3.40 8.54 61.33 56.78 43.22 13.56 Zugdidi 40.39 33.91 49.41 11.03 2.08 0.57 0.51 2.49 15.50 47.98 50.47 49.53 0.94 Tsalenjikha 44.04 33.76 50.48 9.64 2.19 0.64 0.43 2.86 16.72 53.30 52.80 47.20 5.60 Chkhorotsqu 53.58 38.02 47.89 7.81 1.91 0.91 0.30 3.16 9.87 61.71 54.80 45.20 9.60 Poti 42.99 34.11 39.82 12.73 5.11 1.69 1.42 5.12 5.71 54.19 59.62 40.38 19.24 Batumi 44.38 33.88 44.82 8.58 3.93 2.59 2.08 4.12 10.94 55.84 55.73 44.27 11.46 Keda 64.74 50.61 30.31 13.60 2.16 0.85 0.28 2.19 20.30 72.72 62.22 37.78 24.44 Kobuleti 50.40 42.11 42.69 8.01 2.67 0.86 0.56 3.10 0.58 61.98 60.46 39.54 20.92 Shuakhevi 56.96 47.02 35.12 12.69 1.52 1.29 0.22 2.14 11.90 61.41 58.80 41.20 17.60 Khelvachauri 48.75 40.51 40.10 10.75 3.77 1.82 0.64 2.41 0.41 60.85 60.02 39.98 20.04 Khulo 53.96 49.62 29.71 16.76 1.49 0.81 0.20 1.41 19.91 57.39 57.22 42.78 14.44 Abroad N/A 22.49 52.27 6.92 3.14 4.92 5.70 4.56 29.78 N/A 35.76 64.24 28.48Source: CEC CEC CEC CEC

Reactions