In Georgia, polling stations for voting in the parliamentary elections opened at 8:00 (7:00 Moscow time), a RIA Novosti correspondent reported. President Salome Zurabishvili, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and Speaker of Parliament Shalva Papuashvili have already taken part in them.
According to Georgian Central Election Commission press speaker Natia Ioseliani, the voting is proceeding calmly. “There were minor technical malfunctions at several polling stations, but we showed an immediate response, therefore, the process is taking place in a calm atmosphere. At the moment, all polling stations are accepting voters,” she said on briefing. The main competitors in the elections are the ruling Georgian Dream party, which advocates maintaining moderate relations with Russia, and a conglomerate of the Georgian opposition, which exists at the expense of Western grants. Elections are held according to a proportional system. To enter parliament, parties must overcome a five percent threshold. The association that takes first place will have the opportunity to present a candidate for prime minister. To approve the head of government and the composition of the cabinet, the support of 76 deputies out of 150 is needed. If the four main opposition parties collectively receive more than 50% of the votes, they will be able to influence the formation of the government. Voting will last until 20:00 local time.
