2018 Georgian presidential election

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 of Georgia (country)|Georgia (country)|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.

	Name	Occupation	Nominated by
1	Mikheil Antadze	Professor	State for the People Movement
2	Davit Bakradze	Member of Parliament	European Georgia
4	Vakhtang Gabunia	Politician	Christian-Democratic Movement
5	Grigol Vashadze	Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia	United National Movement
10	Shalva Natelashvili	Leader of Georgian Labour Party	Georgian Labour Party
13	Zviad Mekhatishvili	Politician	Christian-Conservative Party of Georgia
17	Giorgi Liluashvili	Vice President of Georgian National Academy	Party Georgia
18	Akaki Asatiani	Politician	Union of Georgian Traditionalists
21	Kakha Kukava	Politician	Free Georgia
22	Otar Meunargia		Industry Will Save Georgia
23	Irakli Gorgadze	Unemployed	Movement for a Free Georgia
25	David Usupashvili	Leader of Development Movement, former chairman of the Parliament of Georgia	Free Democrats
27	Zviad Baghdavadze	Unemployed	Civic Platform – New Georgia
28	Mikheil Saluashvili	Politician	Union of Justice Restoration of the Nation: The Lord Is Our Truth
30	Zviad Iashvili	Unemployed	National-Democratic Party
31	Tamar Tskhoragauli	Entrepreneur	Political Movement Freedom – Zviad Gamsakhurdia's Way
35	Gela Khutsishvili	Politician	Political Movement of the Veterans and Patriots of Georgia
36	Zurab Japaridze	Leader of Girchi	Girchi
40	Levan Chkheidze	Chkheidze and Partners Law Firm	New Christian-Democrats
48	Salome Zourabichvili	Member of Parliament	Initiative Group of Voters
49	Besarion Tediashvili	Founder of TF Construction	Initiative Group of Voters
51	Giorgi Andriadze	Deputy Chairperson of the Commission for Learning Christian Theology and History of Religion at the Georgian Academy of Sciences	Initiative Group of Voters
58	Kakhaber Chichinadze	Entrepreneur	Initiative Group of Voters
62		Director of Publishing House Paragraph	Initiative Group of Voters
65	Teimuraz Shashiashvili	Unemployed	Initiative Group of Voters

Withdrawn

Democratic Movement

Nino Burjanadze, Georgian politician and lawyer who served as Chairman of Parliament of Georgia. 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

Approval ratings

Results

Reactions

International observers assessed the elections as competitive and free, stressing that "one side enjoyed an undue advantage and the negative character of the campaign on both sides undermined the process", while the misuse of administrative resources "blurred the line between party and state". However, Transparency International, based on information from a state agency employee, alleged that state agencies were publishing fake identity cards to allow Zourabichvili supporters to cast multiple ballots in the election. According to the plan, five fake IDs were published per individual, and "trustworthy" officials of agencies were vested with the duty of conducting such action.
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe stated that the elections were "competitive and professionally administered", but noted concerns about a "substantial imbalance in donations", "excessively high spending limits", and a "lack of analytical reporting" as contributing factors to creating an unlevel playing field.
On 29 November, the day after the run-off results were released, the United National Movement leader-in-exile Mikheil Saakashvili encouraged supporters not to accept the election results and to hold demonstrations against the newly elected president. He also called for civil disobedience toward the police and armed forces.