Ruling party is poised to win Georgia election

Georgia’s ruling party claimed victory in an election that could deal a new blow to the Caucasus country’s hopes of joining the EU.

Georgian Dream Party supporters celebrate the exit poll results outside the Georgian Dream headquarters in Tbilisi on Saturday. Picture: Getty Images

Georgia’s ruling party claimed victory in an election the pro-Western opposition denounced as a “constitutional coup” and could deal a new blow to the Caucasus country’s hopes of joining the EU.

If the partial results confirm the victory of the Georgian Dream party, the country could be heading for closer ties with neighbouring Russia.

Brussels has harshly criticised the Georgian Dream’s policies and said the election would play a decisive role in Georgia’s ­chances of joining the EU.

With votes from more than 70 per cent of precincts counted by Sunday, the central election commission said Georgian Dream was leading with 53 per cent, while the main opposition union was on 38 per cent.

That would give Georgian Dream 89 seats in the 150-member parliament, enough to govern but short of the absolute majority it wants to make sweeping constitutional changes.

Tina Bokuchava, leader of the opposition United National Movement, which campaigned on a pro-European platform, said the results were “falsified”.

“This is an attempt to steal Georgia’s future,” she said.

“We hope that the opposition will be united in all calls for ­action that will be announced in the hours to come.”

Opposition party leader Tina Bokuchava after exit polls were announced during parliamentary elections in Tbilisi. Picture: AFP

The opposition has staged mass demonstrations in recent months against what it says are government attempts to cut democratic freedoms and steer the country of four million off its pro-Western course.

Pro-opposition Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili hailed a victory for “European Georgia” despite “attempts to rig” the vote after one exit poll said the opposition won.

After another showed a win for the government, Georgian Dream’s billionaire founder Bidzina Ivanishvili hailed the party’s “success” at a post-election rally where he pumped his fist in ­celebration.

“I assure you, our country will achieve great success in the next four years,” he said.

Georgian oligarch and founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party Bidzina Ivanishvili gives a speech as Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze stands behind. Picture: AFP

Tbilisi voters had expressed diverging views over their country’s future as they cast ballots.

“Of course, I have voted for Europe. Because I want to live in Europe, not in Russia. So I voted for change,” said Alexandre Guldani, an 18-year-old student.

Giga Abuladze, who works in a kindergarten, said “We should be friends with Russia – and ­with Europe”.

In power since 2012, Georgian Dream initially pursued a liberal pro-Western policy agenda, but it has reversed course over the past two years.

In a country scarred by Russia’s 2008 invasion, the party has offered voters bogeyman stories about an imminent threat of war, which only Georgian Dream could prevent.

Russia still has military bases in two separatist regions.

AFP