Elections to choose the next president of Georgia will be held on 28 October. This was announced by the incumbent president, Giorgi Marghvelashvili, on Wednesday 1 August. he said that the date had been agreed with the prime minister.
This will be the last time that the president of Georgia will be selected by popular vote. Under recently approved constitutional changes presidents of Georgia will subsequently be elected by parliament. The post of president of Georgia lost most of its executive power in 2012 following changes in the constitution implemented by the then UNM government.
The October election is seen as a test of the popularity of the Georgian Dream government. The ruling party has not yet chosen its candidate, and party chairman Bidhizina Ivanishvili earlier hinted the party may decide to support a non-partisan candidate.
source: commonspace.eu with agencies
photo: the presidential palace in Tbilisi (archive picture)
