Georgian presidential election, 2013
Encyclopedia
The Georgian presidential election, 2013 is scheduled for October 2013. This will be the 6th presidential election
in Georgia
after the country's declaration of independence from the Soviet Union
in 1991. The last one, held on January 5, 2008
, resulted in the election of Mikheil Saakashvili
for his second and final presidential
term.
Upon the inauguration of new president in 2013, major constitutional
amendments passed in the Parliament of Georgia
on October 15, 2010, will enter into force. The amendments envisage significant reduction of president's powers in favor of Prime Minister
and the government.
, in response to which President Mikheil Saakashvili, then serving his first term in office, brought forward the election from the original date in autumn 2008. Saakashvili won the election with 53.47% of the votes in the poll described in the OSCE election observation mission report as "the first genuinely competitive post-independence presidential election", which "was in essence consistent with most OSCE and Council of Europe commitments and standards for democratic elections". At the same time, the mission "revealed significant challenges which need to be addressed urgently."
As, according to the Constitution of Georgia, Saakashvili is unable to run for a third consecutive term, there have been various speculations regarding his future political plans, including the possibility to return to leadership as Prime Minister. Saakashvili has declined to comment on his future career.
Elections in Georgia (country)
Elections in Georgia gives information on elections and election results in Georgia. An election is a process in which a vote is held to elect candidates to an office...
in Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
after the country's declaration of independence from the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
in 1991. The last one, held on January 5, 2008
Georgian presidential election, 2008
A presidential election was held in Georgia on January 5, 2008, having been brought forward by President Mikheil Saakashvili after the 2007 Georgian demonstrations from the original date in autumn 2008....
, resulted in the election of Mikheil Saakashvili
Mikheil Saakashvili
Mikheil Saakashvili is a Georgian politician, the third and current President of Georgia and leader of the United National Movement Party.Involved in the national politics since 1995, Saakashvili became president on 25 January 2004 after President Eduard Shevardnadze resigned in a November 2003...
for his second and final presidential
President of Georgia
The President of Georgia is the head of state, supreme commander-in-chief and holder of the highest office within the Government of Georgia. Executive power is split between the President and the Prime Minister, who is the head of government...
term.
Upon the inauguration of new president in 2013, major constitutional
Constitution of Georgia (country)
The Constitution of Georgia is the supreme law of Georgia. It was approved by the Parliament of Georgia on August 24 1995. It entered into force on October 17...
amendments passed in the Parliament of Georgia
Parliament of Georgia
Parliament of Georgia is the supreme legislature of Georgia. It is unicameral and has 150 members, known as deputies, from which 75 members are proportional representatives and 75 are elected through single-member district plurality system, representing their constituencies...
on October 15, 2010, will enter into force. The amendments envisage significant reduction of president's powers in favor of Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Georgia
The Prime Minister of Georgia is the most senior minister within the Cabinet of Georgia, appointed by the President of Georgia. The official title of the Head of the Government of Georgia has varied throughout history, however, the duties and functions of the leader have changed only marginally....
and the government.
Background
The last presidential election in Georgia was held on January 5, 2008, in a highly polarized political environment following the November 2007 crisis2007 Georgian demonstrations
The 2007 Georgian demonstrations were a series of anti-government protests in Georgia. The demonstrations peaked on November 2, 2007, when 50,000-100,000 rallied in downtown Tbilisi, capital of Georgia. People protested against the allegedly corrupt government of president Mikheil Saakashvili...
, in response to which President Mikheil Saakashvili, then serving his first term in office, brought forward the election from the original date in autumn 2008. Saakashvili won the election with 53.47% of the votes in the poll described in the OSCE election observation mission report as "the first genuinely competitive post-independence presidential election", which "was in essence consistent with most OSCE and Council of Europe commitments and standards for democratic elections". At the same time, the mission "revealed significant challenges which need to be addressed urgently."
As, according to the Constitution of Georgia, Saakashvili is unable to run for a third consecutive term, there have been various speculations regarding his future political plans, including the possibility to return to leadership as Prime Minister. Saakashvili has declined to comment on his future career.