UNM’s Party List of MP Candidates
United National Movement (UNM) opposition party unveiled on July 23 its party list of MP candidates, who will be contesting in a proportional system in the October 8 parliamentary elections.
UNM presented top ten candidates on its party list in May and it remains unchanged, led by MP Davit Bakradze, followed by Helen Khoshtaria, who is also a majoritarian MP candidate in Tbilisi’s Vake single-mandate constituency; Roman Gotsiridze; Nika Melia; Giorgi Tugushi; Otar Kakhidze; Salome Samadashvili; Irakli Abesadze; Sergi Kapanadze, and MP Sergo Ratiani, who is also a majoritarian MP candidate in one of the constituencies of Tbilisi’s Gldani district.
Other candidates in the list, unveiled on July 23, are:
- MP Giorgi Kandelaki;
- Lela Keburia, former head of the Education Ministry’s resource center in Zugdidi;
- MP Akaki Bobokhidze;
- Giga Bokeria, UNM’s foreign secretary; Georgia’s deputy foreign minister in 2008-2010, and National Security Council secretary in 2010-2013;
- Tengiz Gunava, former chief of police in Samegrelo region and ex-governor of the same region during Mikheil Saakashvili’s presidency;
- MP Irma Nadirashvili;
- Mamuka Chikovani, who is also a majoritarian candidate in one of Rustavi’s two single-mandate constituencies; he ran for Rustavi mayor in 2014, but was defeated by ruling GD coalition candidate;
- MP Tinatin Bokuchava;
- MP Giorgi Tevdoradze;
- Zurab Tchiaberashvili, who is also a majoritarian MP candidate in Sagarejo single-mandate constituency; he was Georgia’s ambassador to Switzerland and then served as healthcare minister and governor of Kakheti region under ex-President Saakashvili’s administration;
- Lasha Damenia, head of UNM’s regional branch in Zugdidi;
- MP Khatuna Gogorishvili;
- Nikoloz Nakopia;
- MP Zaza Kedelashvili;
- MP Azer Suleimanov – he will also run for re-election as a majoritarian MP from Marneuli single-mandate constituency;
- MP Gigi Tsereteli;
- MP Giorgi Gviniashvili – he will also run for re-election as a majoritarian MP from Gurjaani constituency;
- Nino Kalandadze, director of the Tbilisi-based Saakashvili Presidential Library; she was deputy foreign minister in 2008-2012;
- MP Omar Megrelidze;
- Arsen Karapetian, former chief of police in Ninotsminda, who is also UNM’s majoritarian MP candidate in a single-mandate constituency uniting Akhalkalaki and Ninotsminda municipalities;
- MP Mikheil Machavariani;
- Ex-MP Badri Basishvili, who will also run as a majoritarian MP candidate in a single-mandate constituency in Gori;
- MP Zurab Chilingarashvili;
- MP Eka Kherkheulidze;
- MP Levan Tarkhnishvili;
- Dimitri Dzagnidze, a lawyer who was deputy head of presidential administration and president’s parliamentary secretary in 2012-2013
- Davit Gogokhia, an activist from UNM-affiliated group Free Zone;
- Levan Korjakhia, a member of Zugdidi’s city council (Sakrebulo);
- Mamuka Sagareishvili, a member of local council in Tskaltubo;
- Sophio Siukaeva, a member of local council in Terjola;
- Nino Kvitaishvili, a former public school principal;
- MP Davit Darchiashvili;
- Khatuna Berdzenishvili, a former head of Krtsanisi district in Tbilisi;
- Lali Raminashvili, a former principal of one of Tbilisi’s public schools;
- Besik Kvitsiani, head of UNM’s local branch in Tbilisi’s Isani district, who will also run as a majoritarian MP candidate in the same district;
- Beso Tserediani, a former official from the ministry in charge of IDPs;
- Konstantine Mikeladze;
- Zviad Dushmanashvili, a member of local council in Kvareli;
- Gevork Shushanian, UNM member from Samtskhe-Javakheti region;
- Tamar Dalakishvili, a member of local council in Tetritskaro;
- Otar Siradze, a former governor of Racha-Lechkhumi region;
- Lasha Imerlishvili, head of UNM’s local branch in Tbilisi’s Mtatsminda district;
- Natalia Babukhadia;
- Roin Makharoblidze, who is also UNM’s majoritarian MP candidate in Khashuri single-mandate constituency;
- Bakur Mgeladze, a member of local council (Sakrebulo) in Dmanisi;
- Levan Bagashvili, a member of local council in Dedoplistskaro
Georgia has a mixed electoral system in which 73 lawmakers are elected in 73 single-member constituencies, known in Georgia as “majoritarian” mandates (a candidate has to win over 50% of votes in order to be an outright winner otherwise a second round should be held), and rest 77 seats are allocated proportionally under the party-list contest among political parties, which clear 5% threshold in nationwide popular vote.
Candidates ranked higher on their respective party’s list of MP candidates have more chances of being elected in the Parliament if that party clears 5% threshold in nationwide vote.
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