The News in Brief
Thursday, November 9
GDDG Secures 91% of Electoral Donations
Political parties and independent candidates registered for the October 21 municipal elections fundraised over GEL 15.33 million in individual and corporate donations in a period from July 1 to November 1, according to the State Audit Office, an independent institution in charge of the political finance monitoring.
According to the interim report of the State Audit Office released on November 6, 15 political parties received a total of GEL 15.13 million, while 48 independent mayoral nominees and majoritarian Sakrebulo candidates received a total of GEL 200,778 in donations.
The ruling Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia (GDDG) party is leading in terms of individual and corporate contributions with GEL 13.8 million, over 91% of the overall amount of donations. The European Georgia is the second largest recipient of donations with GEL 951,833 that is 6.3% of the total amount of donations.
The United National Movement raised GEL 114,990 during the reporting period. The Alliance of Patriots received GEL 66,392, followed by the New Georgia – GEL 59,600; the Democratic Movement - United Georgia – GEL 40,399; the National Forum (the newly-established Development Movement ran on National Forum’s ticket) – GEL 39,182; the Labor Party – GEL 23,196; the National Democratic Party – GEL 12,204. The remaining six parties fundraised a total of GEL 13,843.
Among the independent candidates, Aleko Elisashvili, an independent Tbilisi mayoral candidate, was the largest recipient of donations with GEL 89,554 (44% of total candidate donations). He is followed by independent mayoral candidate in Zugdidi, Domenti Sichinava, with GEL 50,150 (25%). Independent Sakrebulo majoritarian candidate in Samgori single-mandate constituency of Tbilisi, Gulo Zumbadze, raised GEL 25,400 (13%).
According to Georgia’s law on political unions, all political parties, which cleared a 3% threshold during the last parliamentary or municipal elections (independently or as part of election blocs) are also eligible for budgetary funding.
The State Audit Office reported on November 6 that 14 political parties received GEL 7.9 million from the state budget during the pre-election period from August 22 through October 21.
The United National Movement was the largest recipient of budgetary funding with slightly over GEL 1 million. The ruling Georgian Dream – Democratic Georgia comes next with GEL 925,465, followed by the United Democratic Movement (a nominal political party under Nino Burjanadze’s Democratic Movement - United Georgia ) – GEL 675,055; the European Georgia – GEL 626,810; the Democratic Movement - United Georgia – GEL 623,892; the Alliance of Patriots – GEL 576,131 and Labor Party – GEL 508,481. The seven remaining parties received almost equal sums of funding, ranging from GEL 399,000 to GEL 445,000.
Total funding of political parties, including the budgetary revenues, as well as the monetary and non-monetary donations, during the pre-election period exceeded GEL 18 million with Georgian Dream leading the list with GEL 9.85 million, followed by the European Georgia with GEL 1.46 million; the United National Movement – GEL 1.28 million; the United Democratic Movement – GEL 675,555; the Democratic Movement - United Georgia – GEL 660,256; the Alliance of Patriots – GEL 642,673; the Labor Party – GEL 531,674; the New Georgia – 491,293; the National Forum/Development Movement – GEL 480,490; Republican Party – GEL 440,099. (Civil.ge)
One of 17 detained Saudi princes is honorary citizen of Georgia
One member of the Saudi royal family who was arrested on Saturday night holds a title of honorary citizen of Georgia.
Prince Alwaleed bin Talal was arrested along with 16 other princes, four ministers and tens of other former or current high ranking officials.
He visited Georgia back in July, 2015 and met with then Prime Minister irakli Garibashvili and other Georgian officials, pledging to invest in the Georgian economy.
The prince also donated USD 300,000 to assist the victims of a deadly Tbilisi flood a few weeks before his visit.
During a pompous meeting with Georgian officials, he was awarded the title of “honorary citizen of Georgia”.
Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, 62, is grandson of Ibn Saud, the first Saudi king, and half-nephew of all Saudi kings since. He owns the investment firm Kingdom Holding and is one of the world’s richest men with a fortune of USD 18 billion, with stakes in Apple, Twitter, 21st Century Fox, Citigroup and other well-known companies. The prince also controls satellite television networks watched across the Arab world.
The series of arrests that shocked Saudi Arabia was connected with what seems to be infighting inside the royal family and is being attributed to the push by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the favorite son and top adviser of King Salman, to consolidate his power in the kingdom. (DF watch)
Second Round Runoffs Set for November 12
Second round runoffs in six municipalities, among them Kutaisi, Kazbegi, Khashuri, Borjomi, Ozurgeti and Martvili, will be held on November 12.
According to the Central Election Commission, a total of 328 304 voters are eligible to participate in the runoff polls.
The mayoral candidates of the ruling Georgian Dream – Democratic Georgia party are leading in all the six municipalities, according to the results of the first round.
Tight contest is expected in Borjomi, where GDDG’s mayoral candidate, Levan Lipartia garnered 40.35% of votes in the first round, while Zaza Chachanidze of the Alliance of Patriots received 40.15% of votes.
The difference was narrow in Ozurgeti as well, where the ruling party candidate, Beglar Sioridze, garnered 43.35% of votes, and independent candidate, Konstantine Sharashenidze, received 41.86% of votes.
GDDG’s mayoral candidate, Giorgi Guraspashvili is leading the race in Khashuri Municipality with 42.24% of votes, followed by independent candidate, Ramaz Nozadze, with 18.48% of votes.
Sandro Kamarauli, a mayoral candidate of the Democratic Movement – Free Georgia, who garnered 26.85% of votes, will compete in Kazbegi Municipality with the ruling party candidate, Alexander Zagashvili, who is leading with 44.62% of votes.
In Kutaisi and Martvili, the ruling party’s candidates - Giorgi Chigvaria (48.66%) and Alexander Grigalava (49.76%) - will be challenged by candidates from the United National Movement, Grigol Vashadze (27.04%) and Mamuka Danelia (35.81%), respectively. Polls in these two municipalities will be formal, however, as UNM decided to withdraw from runoffs, citing “mass rigging, blackmail and use of administrative resources.”
Also on November 12, newly elected mayors will assume offices in 58 municipalities. The inaugural session of the Tbilisi City Council will be held two days later, while the rest of the municipality councils will be convened later in November. (civil.ge)
Political parties and independent candidates registered for the October 21 municipal elections fundraised over GEL 15.33 million in individual and corporate donations in a period from July 1 to November 1, according to the State Audit Office, an independent institution in charge of the political finance monitoring.
According to the interim report of the State Audit Office released on November 6, 15 political parties received a total of GEL 15.13 million, while 48 independent mayoral nominees and majoritarian Sakrebulo candidates received a total of GEL 200,778 in donations.
The ruling Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia (GDDG) party is leading in terms of individual and corporate contributions with GEL 13.8 million, over 91% of the overall amount of donations. The European Georgia is the second largest recipient of donations with GEL 951,833 that is 6.3% of the total amount of donations.
The United National Movement raised GEL 114,990 during the reporting period. The Alliance of Patriots received GEL 66,392, followed by the New Georgia – GEL 59,600; the Democratic Movement - United Georgia – GEL 40,399; the National Forum (the newly-established Development Movement ran on National Forum’s ticket) – GEL 39,182; the Labor Party – GEL 23,196; the National Democratic Party – GEL 12,204. The remaining six parties fundraised a total of GEL 13,843.
Among the independent candidates, Aleko Elisashvili, an independent Tbilisi mayoral candidate, was the largest recipient of donations with GEL 89,554 (44% of total candidate donations). He is followed by independent mayoral candidate in Zugdidi, Domenti Sichinava, with GEL 50,150 (25%). Independent Sakrebulo majoritarian candidate in Samgori single-mandate constituency of Tbilisi, Gulo Zumbadze, raised GEL 25,400 (13%).
According to Georgia’s law on political unions, all political parties, which cleared a 3% threshold during the last parliamentary or municipal elections (independently or as part of election blocs) are also eligible for budgetary funding.
The State Audit Office reported on November 6 that 14 political parties received GEL 7.9 million from the state budget during the pre-election period from August 22 through October 21.
The United National Movement was the largest recipient of budgetary funding with slightly over GEL 1 million. The ruling Georgian Dream – Democratic Georgia comes next with GEL 925,465, followed by the United Democratic Movement (a nominal political party under Nino Burjanadze’s Democratic Movement - United Georgia ) – GEL 675,055; the European Georgia – GEL 626,810; the Democratic Movement - United Georgia – GEL 623,892; the Alliance of Patriots – GEL 576,131 and Labor Party – GEL 508,481. The seven remaining parties received almost equal sums of funding, ranging from GEL 399,000 to GEL 445,000.
Total funding of political parties, including the budgetary revenues, as well as the monetary and non-monetary donations, during the pre-election period exceeded GEL 18 million with Georgian Dream leading the list with GEL 9.85 million, followed by the European Georgia with GEL 1.46 million; the United National Movement – GEL 1.28 million; the United Democratic Movement – GEL 675,555; the Democratic Movement - United Georgia – GEL 660,256; the Alliance of Patriots – GEL 642,673; the Labor Party – GEL 531,674; the New Georgia – 491,293; the National Forum/Development Movement – GEL 480,490; Republican Party – GEL 440,099. (Civil.ge)
One of 17 detained Saudi princes is honorary citizen of Georgia
One member of the Saudi royal family who was arrested on Saturday night holds a title of honorary citizen of Georgia.
Prince Alwaleed bin Talal was arrested along with 16 other princes, four ministers and tens of other former or current high ranking officials.
He visited Georgia back in July, 2015 and met with then Prime Minister irakli Garibashvili and other Georgian officials, pledging to invest in the Georgian economy.
The prince also donated USD 300,000 to assist the victims of a deadly Tbilisi flood a few weeks before his visit.
During a pompous meeting with Georgian officials, he was awarded the title of “honorary citizen of Georgia”.
Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, 62, is grandson of Ibn Saud, the first Saudi king, and half-nephew of all Saudi kings since. He owns the investment firm Kingdom Holding and is one of the world’s richest men with a fortune of USD 18 billion, with stakes in Apple, Twitter, 21st Century Fox, Citigroup and other well-known companies. The prince also controls satellite television networks watched across the Arab world.
The series of arrests that shocked Saudi Arabia was connected with what seems to be infighting inside the royal family and is being attributed to the push by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the favorite son and top adviser of King Salman, to consolidate his power in the kingdom. (DF watch)
Second Round Runoffs Set for November 12
Second round runoffs in six municipalities, among them Kutaisi, Kazbegi, Khashuri, Borjomi, Ozurgeti and Martvili, will be held on November 12.
According to the Central Election Commission, a total of 328 304 voters are eligible to participate in the runoff polls.
The mayoral candidates of the ruling Georgian Dream – Democratic Georgia party are leading in all the six municipalities, according to the results of the first round.
Tight contest is expected in Borjomi, where GDDG’s mayoral candidate, Levan Lipartia garnered 40.35% of votes in the first round, while Zaza Chachanidze of the Alliance of Patriots received 40.15% of votes.
The difference was narrow in Ozurgeti as well, where the ruling party candidate, Beglar Sioridze, garnered 43.35% of votes, and independent candidate, Konstantine Sharashenidze, received 41.86% of votes.
GDDG’s mayoral candidate, Giorgi Guraspashvili is leading the race in Khashuri Municipality with 42.24% of votes, followed by independent candidate, Ramaz Nozadze, with 18.48% of votes.
Sandro Kamarauli, a mayoral candidate of the Democratic Movement – Free Georgia, who garnered 26.85% of votes, will compete in Kazbegi Municipality with the ruling party candidate, Alexander Zagashvili, who is leading with 44.62% of votes.
In Kutaisi and Martvili, the ruling party’s candidates - Giorgi Chigvaria (48.66%) and Alexander Grigalava (49.76%) - will be challenged by candidates from the United National Movement, Grigol Vashadze (27.04%) and Mamuka Danelia (35.81%), respectively. Polls in these two municipalities will be formal, however, as UNM decided to withdraw from runoffs, citing “mass rigging, blackmail and use of administrative resources.”
Also on November 12, newly elected mayors will assume offices in 58 municipalities. The inaugural session of the Tbilisi City Council will be held two days later, while the rest of the municipality councils will be convened later in November. (civil.ge)