2006 Georgian local elections

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2006 Georgian local elections
← 2002
5 October 2006
2010 →
Turnout48.3%
 
PartyUNMRPG-CPG blocLabour Party
Councillors1,5035439
Councillors +/–Increase 1,488Increase 39Decrease 113
 
PartyIndustrialistsThe Way of Georgia
Councillors273
Councillors +/–Decrease 454New

Local elections were held in Georgia on October 5, 2006. The elections followed a decree issued on August 26 by President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili, setting the date for the local ballot.

Background

[edit]

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

[edit]

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.[1]

Aftermath

[edit]

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".[2]

National results

[edit]

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:

PartySeats
ProportionalConstituencyTotal
National Movement5789251503
RPG-CPG bloc45954
Labour Party34539
ISWG23427
The Way of Georgia033
Independent68068
Total7489461694
Source: [1]

Tbilisi Sakrebulo election results

[edit]
PartyVotes%Seats+/–Government
ProportionalConstituencyTotal
National Movement204 26166.5392534Increase 20Government
RPG-CPG bloc36 97312.04101NewOpposition
Labour Party32 70110.65101Decrease 14Opposition
ISWG18 6716.08101Decrease 3Opposition
The Way of Georgia8 5122.77000NewExtra-parliamentary
PGNI740.02000NewExtra-parliamentary
Total307 01510037±
Electorate/voter turnout883 80634.74
Source: [2], [3]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "30 წელი თვითმმართველობის პირველი არჩევნებიდან – რა გვასწავლა ისტორიის გაკვეთილებმა" [30 Years Since the First Self-Government Elections – What History Has Taught Us]. თვითმმართველობის დროა. 10 September 2021.
  2. ^ "Observers Hail Elections, but Note Shortcomings". Civil Georgia. UNA-Georgia. 2006-10-06. Retrieved 2007-01-13.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2006_Georgian_local_elections&oldid=1321715822"

    2006 Georgian local elections
    5 October 2006
    Turnout48.3%
     
    PartyUNMRPG-CPG blocLabour Party
    Councillors1,5035439
    Councillors +/–Increase 1,488Increase 39Decrease 113
     
    PartyIndustrialistsThe Way of Georgia
    Councillors273
    Councillors +/–Decrease 454New

    Local elections were held in Georgia on October 5, 2006. The elections followed a decree issued on August 26 by President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili, setting the date for the local ballot.

    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.[1]

    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".[2]

    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:

    PartySeats
    ProportionalConstituencyTotal
    National Movement5789251503
    RPG-CPG bloc45954
    Labour Party34539
    ISWG23427
    The Way of Georgia033
    Independent68068
    Total7489461694
    Source: [1]

    Tbilisi Sakrebulo election results

    PartyVotes%Seats+/–Government
    ProportionalConstituencyTotal
    National Movement204 26166.5392534Increase 20Government
    RPG-CPG bloc36 97312.04101NewOpposition
    Labour Party32 70110.65101Decrease 14Opposition
    ISWG18 6716.08101Decrease 3Opposition
    The Way of Georgia8 5122.77000NewExtra-parliamentary
    PGNI740.02000NewExtra-parliamentary
    Total307 01510037±
    Electorate/voter turnout883 80634.74
    Source: [2], [3]

    References

    1. ^ "30 წელი თვითმმართველობის პირველი არჩევნებიდან – რა გვასწავლა ისტორიის გაკვეთილებმა" [30 Years Since the First Self-Government Elections – What History Has Taught Us]. თვითმმართველობის დროა. 10 September 2021.
    2. ^ "Observers Hail Elections, but Note Shortcomings". Civil Georgia. UNA-Georgia. 2006-10-06. Retrieved 2007-01-13.
    • The Central Election Commission of Georgia Archived 2007-09-29 at the Wayback Machine
    • Adam Carr's Election Archive
    Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2006_Georgian_local_elections&oldid=1321715822"