Survey: Saakashvili, National Movement Unchallenged

Although President Saakashvili and his ruling National Movement party have lost significant portion of electorate, both remain unchallenged candidates in case of presidential and parliamentary elections, the Tbilisi-based Georgian Opinion Research Business International (GORBI) said in its annual public opinion survey on December 22.

According to the GORBI, Mikheil Saakashvili will garner 60% of votes in case of the presidential elections, which is 23% less as compared to the average figures for 2004.

Saakashvili is followed by Koba Davitashvili, the leader of opposition Conservative Party – 5%; ex-Foreign Minister Salome Zourabichvili – 4%; Shalva Natelashvili, the leader of opposition Labor Party – 4%; Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze – 3%; MP Davit Gamkrelidze, the leader of opposition New Rights Party. Georgia’s ex-security chief Igor Giorgadze, who is currently wanted for a failed terrorist attack against ex-President Shevardnadze, also could garner 1% support, according to the GORBI survey. 15% of citizens interviewed by GORBI voted against all candidates.

Although the National Movement party has lost 23% of its electorate this year as compared with the average figure for 2004, the ruling party still enjoys with 48% of support, according to the survey.

The National Movement is followed by the opposition Conservative Party – 6%; opposition Labor Party – 5%; opposition Republican Party – 4%; opposition New Rights Party – 3%; Salome Zourabichvili’s Movement – 1%. 26% voted against all parties.

GORBI, which is the Georgian member of Gallup International, carried out nationally-representative survey of 1000 respondents during the first week of December, 2005.