2016 Georgian parliamentary election

Parliamentary elections were held in Georgia on 8 October 2016 to elect the 150 members of Parliament. The ruling Georgian Dream coalition, led by Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili, sought a second term in office.[1][2] Opposition parties included the former ruling party and main opposition, the United National Movement (ENM); the Free Democrats, formerly a member of the Georgian Dream coalition and led by Irakli Alasania;[3] and the Alliance of Patriots of Georgia.[4]

2016 Georgian parliamentary election

8 and 30 October 2016
All 150 seats in the Parliament 76 seats needed for a majority
Leader Giorgi Kvirikashvili Davit Bakradze Party Georgian Dream ENM Last election 85 seats, 54.97% 65 seats, 40.34% Seats won 115 27 Seat change 30 38 Popular vote 856,638 477,053 Percentage 48.77% 27.11%   Leader Irma Inashvili Gogi Topadze Party APG MGS Last election did not exist 6 Seats won 6 1 Seat change New 5 Popular vote 88,097 13,788 Percentage 5.01% 0.78%
Prime Minister before election Giorgi Kvirikashvili Georgian Dream Prime Minister-designate Giorgi Kvirikashvili Georgian Dream

Georgian Dream won 115 seats, an increase of 30 seats, while the United National Movement was reduced to 27 seats.

Electoral system

The 150 members of the unicameral Parliament are elected by two methods: 77 by proportional representation in a single nationwide constituency with an electoral threshold of 5%, and 73 by two-round system in single-member constituencies with majority rule requiring the winner to get over 50% (in the previous election the first-placed candidate had to pass a 30% threshold to win a constituency seat).

The boundaries of constituencies were re-drawn to reduce the malapportionment effect. Previously, the size of electorates ranged from fewer than 6,000 voters in one district to over 150,000 voters in another.[5]

The elections did not take place in constituencies in the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Opinion polls

Date	Polling firm/source	GD	UNM	OGFD	GLP	APG	CDM	DMUG	Girchi	SRP	SFP	Others	Lead
March–April 2016	IRI	19%	18%	10%	7%	3%	With DMUG	3%			12%		3%
1–3 April 2016	GHN	33%	30%	8%		10%		11%		8%			3%
23 February–14 March 2016	NDI	29%	27%	10%	6%	5%		<3%	<3%	<3%		5%	2%
8–29 January 2016	EPN Research	31%	20%	9%	9%	23%		7%				2%	8%
2015	GHN	20%	27%	33%	4%	6%		3%				2%	6%
17 November–17 December 2015	Newposts	21%	34%	6%	5%	7%		3%	2%			4.1%	13%
17 November–7 December 2015	NDI	31%	21%	11%	7%	5%		4%				2%	10%
November 2015	EPF	18%	19%	19%		13%				10%			Tied
8 August–10 September 2015	NDI	26%	30%	6%	7%	3%	With DMUG	6%	3%				6%
27 March–19 April 2015	NDI	24%	16%	9%	5%	6%						11%	8%
3–28 February 2015	IRI	36%	14%	10%	6%	5%		5%				1%	12%
23 July–7 August 2014	NDI	46%	15%		6%							16%	30%
15 June 2014	Local elections	50%	22%		3%	4%	10%				3%	32%
26 March–18 April 2014	NDI	46%	16%		11%		13%		7%				30%
13–27 November 2013	NDI	65%	15%		6%		6%	8%	4%				51%
18 August–3 September 2013	NDI	56%	16%		7%		7%	12%				4%	40%
12–26 June 2013	NDI	55%	13%									22%	32%
13–27 March 2013	NDI	63%	13%									15%	48%
14–25 November 2012	NDI	66%	13%				10%					7%	53%
1 October 2012	Parliamentary elections	53%	40%		2%		2%					1%	13%

Results

Georgian Dream declared victory soon after voting ended. Georgian Dream Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili told supporters at party headquarters that "I congratulate you with a big victory Georgia! According to all preliminary results, Georgian Dream is leading with a big advantage." Georgia Dream Deputy Prime Minister Kakha Kaladze added that the party's own data showed that it had won around 59 percent of the vote.

However, the United National Movement campaign head Nika Melia accused the government of vote rigging, saying "Votes have been stolen from us. We will defend our votes." Other parties such as Democratic Georgia, the Labour Party and the Alliance of Patriots also accused the government of massive vote rigging.[6]

Party		Proportional			Constituency			Seats
		Votes	%	Seats	Votes	%	Seats	Total	+/–
	Georgian Dream	856,638	48.68	44			71	115	+30
	United National Movement	477,053	27.11	27			0	27	–38
	Alliance of Patriots of Georgia	88,097	5.01	6			0	6	New
	Free Democrats	81,464	4.63	0			0	0	–8
	Democratic Movement – United Georgia	62,166	3.53	0			0	0	0
	State for a People	60,681	3.45	0			0	0	New
	Georgian Labour Party	55,208	3.14	0			0	0	0
	Republican Party	27,264	1.55	0			0	0	–9
	Industry Will Save Georgia-Our Fatherland	13,788	0.78	0			1	1	–5
	National Forum	12,763	0.73	0			0	0	–6
	Georgia for Peace	3,824	0.22	0			0	0	New
	Georgian Idea	2,916	0.17	0			0	0	New
	Tamaz Mechiauri - for United Georgia	2,805	0.16	0			0	0	New
	Georgian Troupe	2,182	0.12	0			0	0	0
	Communist Party	1,757	0.10	0			0	0	New
	Our People, People's Party	1,595	0.09	0			0	0	0
	Georgia	1,548	0.09	0			0	0	New
	Road of Zviadi	1,467	0.08	0			0	0	New
	United Communist Party of Georgia	1,467	0.08	0			0	0	New
	Progressive Democratic Union	1,010	0.06	0			0	0	New
	Merab Kostava Society	966	0.05	0			0	0	0
	People's Authority	810	0.05	0			0	0	New
	Our Georgia	802	0.05	0			0	0	New
	Left-wing Alliance	699	0.04	0			0	0	New
	Labour Socialist Party	662	0.04	0			0	0	New
	Independents	–	–	–			1	1
Invalid/blank votes		65,422	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
Total		1,825,054	100	77			73	150	0
Registered voters/turnout		3,513,884	51.94	–			–	–	–
Source: CEC, Civil.ge, Majority Seats

References

1. "Georgian Dream starts preparations for Elections 2016". Rustavi 2. 19 January 2015. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
2. Kakachia, Kornely (12 January 2015). "The end of the Georgian dream". openDemocracy. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
3. "Alasania Becomes FD's Chairman, Hopes to 'Celebrate Victory' in 2016 Elections". Civil Georgia. 8 November 2014. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
4. "Local Elections Boost Alliance of Patriots' Ambitions for Parliamentary Polls". Civil Georgia. 21 June 2014. Archived from the original on 15 July 2014. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
5. Elections Guide Civil.ge
6. Georgia ruling party leads in parliamentary polls: Early results Press TV, 9 October 2016