Tblisi (AsiaNews/Agencies) – The election commission yesterday evening established that president Mikhail Saakashvili won Saturdays early elections, but the opposition is contesting the ballot. The OSCE, however while admitting that there were some difficulties, affirms that the elections were “valid”.
Saakashvili obtained 52.8% of the vote; the main opposition candidate, Levan Gachechiladze took 27%.
The opposition has refused to accept the result because in its opinion, an hour before the results were communicated only partial results were available. They have promised to take legal action to ask for a revision of the ballot.
The OSCE (The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe) instead declared the elections took place in “a climate of true competition, despite some “gaps” but can be generally considered valid. Russia defined declarations of victory by the pro-western government as “rushed and superficial”.
Saakashvili, 40, is considered a hero in the wake of the “rose” revolution in 2003, which deposed Edward Shevardnadze and the Kremlin influence, bringing the nation closer to the west. Its democratic image was blighted after years of economic stagnancy and poverty, attributed by many to government corruption. In November last 50 thousand people took to the streets demanding his resignation. In response he declared a state of emergency for 9 days, which ended with a promise of early elections.