Credit:Zeljko Heimer (FOTW Flags Of The World website at flagspot.net)

Election Date: March 27, 2004

At stake: Parliament

Background

The Georgian Supreme Court partially annulled the Nov. 2, 2003 parliamentary vote in Georgia, which led to the resignation of the president after opposition politicians requested his dismissal over electoral fraud. The country chose former justice minister Mikhail Saakashvili as the new head of state on Jan. 4, 2004.

Georgia was the site of political turmoil for most of 2003. President Eduard Shevardnadze, a veteran who served as foreign affairs minister for the Soviet Union, faced a difficult test before the vote. Growing dissatisfaction with his policies spawned a student movement that staged protests in the country. Shevardnadze originally promised to retire in 2005.

On Jul. 7, Shevardnadze accepted a proposal from the United States government to reform Georgia's electoral commission, thereby ensuring fair parliamentary elections. The recommendation—tabled by former state secretary James Baker—was regarded as a positive step. In late-July, the Georgian Parliament rejected the new composition of the country's electoral commission, and criticism against Shevardnadze continued.

With Shevarnadze's low approval rating, and rifts that led to the disintegration of the ruling Citizen's Union (SMK), government backers did not expect a positive outcome. The presence of 22 contending parties left no political organization with a majority in Parliament. After the Nov. 2 vote was completed, international observers led by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) expressed dissatisfaction over the "spectacular failures of the electoral administration."

Opposition organizations staged demonstrations in Tbilisi for several days, beginning on Nov. 4. The government rejected accusations of vote-rigging, claiming the count was slow because ballots had to be gathered in remote areas.

On Nov. 20, after several delays, the Central Election Commission released final results for the 150 proportional representation seats. The coalition assembled by the head of state under the name For A New Georgia finished in first place with 21.32 per cent, followed by the Democratic Revival Union of Adzharian leader Aslan Abashidze with 18.84 per cent.

The National Movement-Democratic Front—which campaigned under the slogan "Georgia Without Shevardnadze" led by Saakashvili—was third with 18.08 per cent, followed by the left-wing Labour Party with 12 per cent, parliament chairperson Nino Burdzhanadze's Democrats with 8.8 per cent and the industrialist New Rights Party with 7.4 per cent.

On Nov. 21, Georgia's security chief Tedo Dzhaparidze sided with the opposition, by calling the elections "fraudulent" and requesting a new round of votes. A day later, as Parliament was convening, opposition supporters stormed the building. Shevardnadze fled and declared a "state of emergency." Parliament chairperson Burdzhanadze declared that, in according with the Constitution, she would assume the functions of the president until the tense situation could be cleared. Saakashvili defined the events as a "velvet revolution" and called for early presidential elections.

On Nov. 23, Shevardnadze officially resigned after meeting with Saakashvili and Democrat leader Zurab Zhvania in the official residence. Burdzhanadze established Jan. 4, 2004 as the date for the presidential ballot. A total of 15 candidates filed nomination applications, but only six—including Saakashvili—were approved by the Central Election Commission.

Voting went on without major incidents. On Jan. 5, Central Election Commission chairman Zurab Chiaberashvili released preliminary results. With 14 per cent of all precincts reporting, Saakashvili appeared to be headed for a clear victory. Final results were made public on Jan. 17, with Saakashvili receiving 96.94 per cent of all cast ballots. Turnout was tabled at 86 per cent. The country also adopted a new national flag on Jan. 14.

Saakashvili promised to seek better diplomatic relations with Russia while continuing with Georgia's pro-Western orientation. He officially took over from Burdzhanadze on Jan. 25. Georgian citizens headed to the polls again on Mar. 28, this time to allocate 150 proportional representation seats in Parliament. The results of the Nov. 2, 2003 election in the 85 single-seat constituencies were allowed to stand.

Final figures were released on Mar. 31. Saakashvili's coalition garnered 67.02 per cent of all cast ballots, followed by the Industrialists-New Rights alliance with 7.62 per cent. Adhzarian leader Abashidze was left with no proportional representation seats, as his Democratic Revival Union received just six per cent of the vote. The recently created Freedom Party—led by Konstantine Gamsakhurdia, son of a former Georgian president—did not elect any lawmakers. Turnout for the parliamentary ballot was tabled at 69 per cent.

On Apr. 2, Georgian officials detained four men in connection with an alleged plot to assassinate Saakashvili. Adhzarian leader Abashidze has denied any involvement in the purported conspiracy. The Central Election Commission annulled the results of two of Adzharia's six districts due to irregularities.

Georgia lies on the route of the U.S.-backed Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, a fact that makes the country strategically relevant to the West. Completion of the project is expected in 2005.

Political Players

President: Mikhail Saakashvili

The president is elected to a five-year term by popular vote.

Legislative Branch: The Sak'art'velos Parlamenti (Parliament of Georgia) has 235 members, elected to four-year terms. 85 seats are elected in single-seat constituencies, and 150 seats by proportional representation.

Results of Last Election:

President - Jan. 4, 2004

Parliament (Single-Seat Constituencies) - Nov. 2, 2003

Parliament (Proportional Representation) - Mar. 28, 2004

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