Saakashvili Submits Supporters’ Signatures to CEC
Presidential candidate Mikheil Saakashvili’s campaign representatives submitted to the Central Election Commission (CEC) on December 4 about 140,000 signatures of supporters – much more than the 50,000 needed to be officially registered as a presidential candidate.
The deadline for submitting supporters’ signatures to the CEC expires at 6 pm local time on December 6. The CEC will then check the lists of signatures within two days. In the event of inaccuracies the potential candidates will then have another two days to make corrections. The CEC will then decide on the registration of candidates.
Saakashvili is the first of 18 potential candidates to submit supporters’ lists to the CEC.
Meanwhile, the ex-president’s new advertisement, which like the first one is made in a TV news report format telling viewers about Saakashvili’s visit to the western region of Guria, went out on air on December 4. In the ad Saakashvili is seen meeting with local village children – whom he promises to built new sport halls and playing fields. He is also seen lighting a candle in a church and speaking to a local priest.
Saakashvili’s main rival for the presidency, lawmaker Levan Gachechiladze of the nine-party opposition coalition was campaigning in Guria on December 4.
