Georgia's Ruling Party Claims Victory In Elections

Georgian Dream is claiming that its candidate David Narmania (pictured0 has won the Tbilisi mayoral election outright

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili has claimed that the ruling Georgian Dream coalition has emerged victorious in the country's local elections.

Gharibashvili said Georgian Dream candidate David Narmania has won the Tbilisi mayoral election outright in the June 15 first round of voting.

Speaking to people at the Georgian Dream office in Tbilisi, Gharibashvili said Georgian Dream had won in all regions of the country.

Not all exit polls supported Gharibashvili's claims of victory and the United National Movement party has said the exit polls it is looking at suggested there would be a need to hold a second round of elections for Tbilisi's mayor.

Mayoral offices in 12 cities and seats in 71 district and city councils in Georgia were at stake in the municipal polls in which 24 parties and blocs were represented.
Based on reporting by ITAR-TASS, Interfax, and Rustavi-2 TV