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Georgia an ally of Prime Minister won a landslide victory

 

Georgy Margvelachvili, an ally of Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanichvili, won a landslide victory in the first round of Sunday's presidential election in Georgia, recognized by his opponent.

. Upon publication of exit polls, David Bakradze conceded defeat. "I congratulate Giorgi Margvelachvili for his victory and the confidence that the people of Georgia has granted," said Mr. Bakradze during a press briefing.

"This is our common victory," said Mr. Margvelachvili to his supporters gathered in Tbilisi. Fireworks have lit up the sky of the Georgian capital at the close of polling.

This election marks the end of a tumultuous era of Saakashvili came to power a decade ago after the Rose Revolution, and strong presidential power in this ex -Soviet Caucasus republic of 4.5 million people. Prime Minister thank you

The Prime Minister and billionaire Bidzina Ivanichvili whose Georgian Dream movement had already beaten Saakashvili to the October 2012, said Sunday night that he had no doubt the victory of its candidate. "Together we will build a Georgia we dream," he has said.

Mr. Ivanichvili pledged to leave politics after the election and appoint his successor as head of government. "Thanks to the Prime Minister who has contributed to my victory," said Mr Margvelachvili from the publication of opinion polls. "Back"

Saakashvili had taxed Mr. Margvelachvili of "puppet billionaire" voted in Tbilisi where he was heckled by his detractors to the polling station.

During a brief speech on television in the evening, he called on his supporters to "respect the opinion of the majority." However, he stressed that the outcome of the election was a "serious error" the path to modernization.

The participation rate was relatively low (46.6%) in this presidential whose winner will have fewer powers than the prime minister, under a constitutional reform.

Nino Burjanadze, former charismatic President of the Parliament, Saakashvili ally and adversary, on good terms with Russian President Vladimir Putin, won less than 10% of the vote.

During the vote, the United States Ambassador to Georgia Richard Norland hailed the "peaceful, honest and transparent" voting process. 

No politician in Georgia is challenging the heading west advocated by Saakashvili, but his successor will have to work hard to improve relations with Russia.

The two countries have no diplomatic relations since the five-day war in August 2008 for the control of pro-Russian separatist territory of South Ossetia. Russia recognized the heels two breakaway Georgian republics which are stationed thousands of Russian soldiers.

Observers from the OSCE (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe) have called the campaign "much quieter" than the October, 2012, who had seen the raw , re peaceful transfer of power in the country after the defeat of Saakashvili camp.

Since then, several close allies of Saakashvili were arrested, causing concern in Western capitals who suspect politically motivated prosecutions.

Mr. Ivanichvili who called Mr. Saakashvili of "politically dead man" has warned it could also be prosecuted.

Criticized for his authoritarian style and especially the disastrous war with Russia, Saakashvili, however, succeeded in ten years to curb corruption, to build infrastructure and boost e economy of the country which had experienced after the fall of the USSR in 1991 a civil war and misery.

The reforms initiated by Saakashvili, a lawyer trained in the United States and France, were not appreciated by all: the country has experienced several forms, some of which have e , violently dispersed by police tee. AFP