Georgia Billionaire Seeks Third Election Win Amid Currency Woe
- Ivanishvili’s party faces opponents in parliamentary elections
- Georgia holds Oct. 31 vote with Covid-19 infections rising
Ivanishvili said in an Oct. 8 statement that Georgian Dream was “winning confidently” and expects as much as 60% support in the election.
Photographer: Sergei Grits/APThis article is for subscribers only.
Georgians will elect a new parliament Saturday with the ruling party founded by billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili seeking a third successive victory even as it contends with a slump in the currency and a resurgent coronavirus epidemic.
Ivanishili’s Georgian Dream leads the main opposition movement, according to opinion polls, under a reformed electoral system that promises to expand representation for minority parties. A record 50 parties and electoral blocs are competing for the 150 seats with the threshold for entering parliament lowered to 1% of votes.