Saakashvili Says Election ‘Most Democratic’

Mikheil Saakashvili, who was re-elected with 53% of the vote, said the January 5 presidential election was “the most democratic one” in Georgia.

“Today is a very important day for me and for Georgia,” Saakashvili said on January 13. “This is a victory for the parties that supported me, as well as for the Georgian opposition, because I hope that along with democratic development – and this was the most democratic election in Georgia – there will be more political dialogue and more participation of all groups in Georgia’s development.”

Saakashvili’s remarks, the first since being declared the official winner of the January 5 polls, were made at an old people’s shelter in Tbilisi.

“Our people gave me a clear mandate to eradicate poverty and unite Georgia,” he said. “We will achieve this, I am absolutely sure of it.”