2006 Georgian local elections

Background

Being the first election since the immediate aftermath of the Rose Revolution, the vote was considered to be the first major test of the authorities commitment to a transparent process in non-revolutionary circumstances. In addition, they were to demonstrate the level of public confidence in both the ruling NMD - after a series of scandals - and the opposition, which has begun to strengthen and reorganise that year.

The elections coincided with a very tense period of relations with Russia. After a major diplomatic row regarding alleged Russian spying, the Kremlin has severed all transport and post links with Georgia.

Electoral system

The 2005 reforms abolished the two-level system of self-government, that is, the councils of villages and small towns were abolished. Instead, only the councils of municipalities (formerly called raions, which consisted of villages and small towns) and big cities were retained. The big cities were categorized as "self-governing cities". Tbilisi, Rustavi, Kutaisi, Poti and Batumi possessed the status of self-governing city. The elections were thus held for 65 local councils instead of 1000 in 1998. The elections of gamgebelis and mayors were also abolished. The council elections were held through a mixed electoral system. The threshold in the proportional vote increased to 5%. The majoritarian candidate would need to receive most of the votes to secure a seat. In Tbilisi, the party winning the proportional vote in each electoral district would receive all seats allocated to that district.

Aftermath

According to preliminary results, the elections were won by the United National Movement led by President Saakashvili with an overwhelming majority. The predominantly Armenian-populated Akhalkalaki Municipality was the only one where an opposition grouping, the Industry Will Save Georgia Party, won a majority of votes. According to international observers, particularly the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, the "municipal elections in Georgia were conducted with general respect for fundamental freedoms; however, the blurred distinction between the ruling authorities and the leading party reinforced the advantage of the incumbents".{{cite news

National results

A total of 1,694 mandates were distributed throughout Georgia, comprising 748 seats allocated by the proportional system and 946 majoritarian seats, with the vast majority awarded to the National Movement:

Tbilisi Sakrebulo election results

References

References

1. (10 September 2021). "30 წელი თვითმმართველობის პირველი არჩევნებიდან – რა გვასწავლა ისტორიის გაკვეთილებმა".