Georgia thrown into political turmoil after disputed vote

TBILISI: Georgia plunged into political turmoil on Sunday after the ruling party declared victory in parliamentary elections decried by the opposition as “falsified”.

The European Union had warned that Saturday´s vote, seen as a crucial test of democracy in the Caucasus country, would determine Tbilisi´s chances of joining the bloc. A group of international observers said the vote was “marred by an uneven playing field, pressure and tension,” while noting that election day was generally well organised.

A mission from the EU parliament meanwhile expressed concern about “democratic backsliding”, saying it had seen instances of “ballot box stuffing” and the “physical assault” of observers.

The result sets the stage for a political showdown that analysts warn could derail Georgia´s European aspirations. Official tallies from more than 99 percent of precincts showed the ruling Georgian Dream party winning 54.08 percent of the vote, while a union of four pro-Western opposition alliances garnered 37.58 percent, according to central election commission chair Giorgi Kalandarishvili.

The result gives Georgian Dream 91 seats in the 150-member parliament -- enough to govern but short of the supermajority it had sought to pass a constitutional ban on all main opposition parties. “Our victory is impressive,” Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said in a statement, accusing the opposition of “undermining the country´s constitutional order” by questioning his party´s victory.