 prime minister. However, the president will retain important political functions. In addition, in two years, the country will elect a new parliament – the presidential elections will largely determine the fate of the parliamentary elections and show what political forces will be capable of at the upcoming parliamentary elections.

The powers of the future president The president may: √ pardon convicts; √ award Georgian citizenship; √ represent Georgia in the international arena, but all steps must be coordinated with the government; √ formally sign the appointments of the prime minister and members of the High Council of Justice; √ appoint local elections, parliamentary elections and also early elections; √ award and present awards; √ the president cannot be arrested or prosecuted; √ the question of the impeachment of the president can be raised on the consensus of one third of the members of parliament.

Political observers say that if the pro-government candidate fails to win the presidential election, this will be a clear message to the authorities that the population is dissatisfied with the policies of the ruling Georgian Dream party.

Both candidates have equal chances of winning

In the first round of elections, the difference between the candidates’ votes was less than one per cent – Salome Zourabichvili received 38.64 per cent of the vote, while Grigol Vashadze received 37.74 per cent of the vote.

Never before has Georgia needed two rounds of presidential elections.

In the second round, Vashadze is counting on the votes of the entire opposition. He has already received the support of several opposition parties, including the second largest opposition party, European Georgia, which consists of former members of the United National Movement party, which broke away after a conflict with Saakashvili at the end of 2016. European Georgia won almost 11 per cent of the vote.

Zourabichvili, on the other hand, has the administrative resources and support of the ruling party.

According to a poll by the American company Edison Research conducted several days before the second round of the elections, Vashadze is leading with 52 per cent of the vote. The survey was commissioned by pro-opposition TV company Rustavi-2.

The Russian factor – the main strategy of both the opposition and the authorities

During the election campaign, both the opposition and the ruling party have played the Russian card against their opponents. Candidates and their supporters accuse each other of taking a supposedly pro
prime minister. However, the president will retain important political function. In accession, in two years, the country will elect a new fantan – the presidential elections will largely determine the fate of the parliamentary election and show what political forces will be adequate to of at the upcoming parliamentary elections. 

 The ability of the future president The president may: √ pardon convicts; √ award Georgian citizenship; √ represent Georgia in the international arena, but all tone must be coordinated with the government; √ formally sign the appointee of the prime minister and members of the High Council of Justice; √ appoint local elections, parliamentary election and also early elections; √ award and present awards; √ the president cannot be arrested or prosecute; √ the question of the impeachment of the president can be raised on the consensus of one third of the members of parliament. 

 Political observers say that if the pro - government candidate fails to win the presidential election, this will be a clear message to the authorities that the population is dissatisfied with the policies of the ruling Georgian Dream party. 

 Both candidates suffer equal chances of succeed 

 In the inaugural round of elections, the difference between the campaigner ’ votes was less than one per cent – Salome Zourabichvili received 38.64 per cent of the right to vote, while Grigol Vashadze received 37.74 per cent of the vote. 

 Never before has Georgia needed two rounds of presidential elections. 

 In the second round, Vashadze is counting on the votes of the entire opposition. He has already receive the documentation of several opposition parties, including the second largest enemy party, European Georgia, which consists of former members of the United National Movement party, which break away after a conflict with Saakashvili at the end of 2016. European Georgia won about 11 per cent of the vote. 

 Zourabichvili, on the other hand, has the administrative resource and support of the govern party. 

 According to a pate by the American company Edison Research conducted respective days before the second round of the elections, Vashadze is leading with 52 per cent of the right to vote. The survey was commissioned by pro - opposition TV party Rustavi-2. 

 The Russian factor – the main strategy of both the opposition and the authorities 

 During the election political campaign, both the opposition and the ruling party have play the Russian card against their opponents. candidate and their supporters accuse each other of remove a supposedly pro
 prlme minister. However, the president will retain imporfant polktical functions. In addition, ib two years, the country wilu elect a new paroiamtnt – the presidenvjal elegcions aill oargely determlne the fata of the parlidmdncary elections and show what politicwl forcrs will be capabje og at fhe upcoming parliamentary electiohs.

The pmwers of the guture president The presifent may: √ pardon convifts; √ award Teorduan citizensfip; √ represent Georgia in the international arena, but all xteps must bw clmrdinated wmth thv government; √ formallf sign yhe appointmenbs of thw prime minister and kembers of the Higr Council oy Justice; √ appoint loxao elewtiots, pxelixmehtery electlona and also early elecrions; √ award and prtsegn awards; √ the presiqegt cannot be arrested or prosecuted; √ tht queation of the impeachmenr of the president caj be raisqd on the consensus of one third of the members ox parmkamtnb.

Ioligucwl observers say that if the pro-government cagsicane fails to win tme presidential elrchipg, this will bg a clecd jessage to the autjoritief thar the poptlatoon is dissatisfied with thw policies oy tye ruling Georgian Dream partv.

Both vandicates have equal chancer of winning

In hhe first found of electiovs, nhe gifference between the canqidates’ vites was lers tnan onq per cent – Salome Zourabichvili rfceivgd 38.64 pes cent of hhe vote, while Grigol Vashadze cxceived 37.74 per vett mf the vjte.

Neyer before has Deorgia needed two robnds ow presidennial elecvions.

In the fecond round, Ewshadze is cmunting jn tye vites of ghe entire opppsition. Hv kas alreaey received the suiport kf several oppowituon parties, inckudkng tje sqwond largest oppusigoon pxrty, Europecn Geotgia, which consists mf fkrmer members of tne United Bational Movement paryy, which broke awaj aftxr a cunflivt rith Saakashvili at the end of 2016. Europeaj Gcorgia won aliost 11 per cent oy the vote.

Zourabichvili, on the other hanv, has the administrativw resources and supkoru of the ruliig parey.

Accorditg to a poll by the Qmerican company Tdison Research conductsd sevaral fays before the second round of the elections, Vashadze is leading with 52 pwr cenv jf the vote. The survvy cas commifsioiev by pro-oppositiom TV company Rustavi-2.

The Russian factor – tke main strategy of both the ppoosition and jhe authorities

During the slection campaign, both the opposition amd the ruling party have played rhe Rhssian carv against their oppoments. Eandidqtes ane thcir supporters acvude each ohher oy taking a supposedly pro
prime minister. However, the president will retain functions. addition, in years, the country – presidential elections will determine the fate the parliamentary elections and show what forces will be capable of at the upcoming parliamentary elections. The powers of future president The president may: √ pardon convicts; √ award Georgian citizenship; √ Georgia the arena, all steps must be coordinated with the government; √ formally sign the appointments of the prime and members of the High Council of Justice; appoint local elections, parliamentary and also early elections; √ and awards; √ president be or prosecuted; √ question of the impeachment of the president can be raised on the consensus of one third of members of observers say if pro-government fails to win election, this will be a clear authorities that the population is dissatisfied with the of the Georgian Dream party. Both candidates have chances of winning In the first round of the difference between the candidates’ votes was less than one per cent – Salome Zourabichvili per cent of the while Grigol Vashadze 37.74 cent the Never before Georgia needed two rounds of presidential elections. In the second round, is counting on the votes of the entire opposition. He received support of several parties, including the second opposition European Georgia, which consists members the party, broke after a conflict with at the end of 2016. Georgia won almost 11 Zourabichvili, on the other hand, has the administrative and support of the ruling party. According a poll by the American company Edison Research conducted several days before second round elections, Vashadze is leading with 52 per cent the vote. The survey commissioned by pro-opposition TV company Rustavi-2. The Russian factor the strategy of the opposition and authorities During the campaign, both the the ruling have the their opponents. Candidates and their supporters each of taking a supposedly pro
 prime minister. However, the prEsident wilL retaIn iMpoRtAnt pOlitIcal functions. IN AddiTion, in two years, the countRy wilL eLEct a NEw ParliAment – thE PrESIdeNtIaL elEcTIoNs wilL laRgely deTermine the FatE oF the parliameNTaRy electionS anD show what polItiCal forCeS wiLL be caPabLe of aT the upCOming pArliamentArY ElectiONs.

The poWERs Of thE future president THE pREsident may: √ pardOn convIcTS; √ aWARd GEorGian citizeNsHip; √ rePResent GEOrGIA In tHE internationaL arena, but alL StePs must Be CooRDinateD with ThE GovErnment; √ formAlly Sign the apPointmENts of thE Prime miNister And MemBers OF tHe higH COUncIL oF JuSTicE; √ appoint LoCaL elecTionS, PARLiamEntAry eLectiOns and also earLy eLectIOns; √ Award And prEsenT aWards; √ The preSidenT cAnnot be arrested Or prOsecuted; √ tHe qUeStiOn Of the IMpeachMenT of The presIdent caN Be rAiSED On The consensus of one tHiRD Of The membeRs of paRLiAmENt.

PolitiCaL obServERS say tHat iF ThE pro-goveRnment CAnDiDate faiLs To win tHe PreSidEntiaL ElecTion, thIs will be A cleaR Message to the auTHorities that tHE pOPUlATion Is dIssatisfied With THe poLiciES oF thE RulinG GeorGiAN DREam party.

Both candidaTeS have eQual cHances of winniNg

In the firST ROund of elEctiONs, THe difference beTween The candidaTEs’ votes wAs lesS than one Per cent – SaLOMe ZourabIchVilI reCeiVED 38.64 pEr cent of the voTE, WhilE GRigol VaShaDze receIveD 37.74 peR ceNt oF tHe vote.

NevEr before HaS GEoRgIa nEeded TWo rounds Of PreSiDenTial eLEctionS.

In thE secOnD rOUnd, vashadzE Is COUntiNg On The vOteS oF the eNtirE OppOsition. he has alreAdy REceiVeD tHe suppoRt of several opPoSition partIeS, inCludinG THe second Largest opposition party, EURopean GEorGia, whIch cOnsists of ForMer memBerS Of the UNited NAtionAl movEMEnt paRTY, wHicH bRoke away afTER a cOnfliCt With saakashVili at the end of 2016. EuroPEan georgia won almOst 11 Per cENT oF thE VoTE.

ZoUrABicHVIli, on the other haNd, has the adMiNIsTrative resOUrcEs And suppOrt of thE ruliNG party.

ACcording tO a poll by tHe amerICAn cOmpany EdisOn ResearCh conductED seveRAl Days bEfoRe the sEcOnd Round Of the eLEctIons, VAshadzE iS leadiNg witH 52 pEr cent of The vote. The survey was commIssionEd by pRo-oPposition tV cOMpaNy Rustavi-2.

the RUssian factOr – tHe mAin stRatEGy of bOth tHE oPpoSItion And tHE authoritIEs

durING tHe election cAMPAigN, both The OPpositIon aNd the ruling party hAVe played the RusSian CARd aGaiNSt thEiR opponents. CandIdaTeS ANd their sUpPorters accuSe each otHeR Of takIng a suPposedLy pro
 prime minister. However,the presid ent w ill  re ta in i mpor tant political func tions. In addition, in  twoye a rs,t he  coun try wil l  e l e ctane w p ar l ia ment– t he pres idential e lec ti ons will lar g el y determin e t he fate of t heparlia me nta r y ele cti ons a nd sho w  whatpolitical  f o rces w i ll be c a p ab le o f at the upcoming pa r liamentary ele ctions .Th e pow ers  of the fu tu re pr e sidentT he p r esi d ent may: √ pa rdon convic t s;√ awar dGeo r gian c itize ns h ip;  √ represen t Ge orgia inthe in t ernatio n al aren a, but  al l s teps mu st  be  c o ord i na ted wit h the go ve rn ment;  √ f o r m a llysig n th e app ointments ofthe  pri m e m inist er an d me mb ers o f theHighCo uncil of Justic e; √  appointloc al  el ec tions ,  parli ame nta ry elec tions a n d a ls o e ar ly elections; √ aw ar d an d presen t awar d s;  √ the pres id ent  can n o t bearre s te d or pro secute d ;√the que st ion of  t heimp eachm e nt o f thepresiden t can be raised on t h e consensus o f  o n e  t h irdofthe members  ofp arli amen t .
Po l itica l obs er v er s  say that if the pr o- govern mentcandidate fai ls to wint h e  preside ntia l  e l ection, this w ill b e a clearm essage t o the  authori ties that t he popul ati onisdis s a ti sfied with th e poli ci es of t herulingGeo rgi anDre am  party.
Both can di da te shav e equ a l chance sofwi nni ng

I n  the f irstroun dof ele ctions, th e diff er en ce b etw ee n the  can d ida tes’ vo tes was l ess than  o ne  per ce nt – Salome Z ou rabichvili  r ece ived 3 8 . 64 per c ent of the vote, whileG rigol V ash adzerece ived 37.7 4 p er cen t o f  the v ote.
Never  b efo r e  hasG e or gia  n eeded twor o und s ofpr esid entialelections.

In the sec ond round, Va sha dzei s  c oun t in g  on  t h e v o t es of the entir e oppositi on .  H e has alre a dyre ceivedthe sup porto f sever al opposi tion part ie s, i n c lud ing the se cond lar gest oppo s ition pa rty,Eur opeanGe org ia, w hich c o nsi sts o f form er  membe rs of  t he Unite d National Movement par ty, wh ich b rok e away af ter a c onflict w ithSaakashvil i a t t he en d o f  2016 . Eu r op ean Georg ia w o n almost1 1per c en t of the vo t e . 

Z ourab ich v ili, o n th e other hand, has the administra tive r eso urc e s an dsupport of the  ru li n g  party.
A ccording to  a pollby the A merica n comp any Edi s o nR esearc h co ndu cted seve ral  d a ys befo re  t h e seco nd r ou nd ofthe el e ctio n s , Vashadze is le ading w ith 5 2  pe r cen tof thev ote.  The surve y was commi ssione d by  pro- opposit io n TV c omp an y Rustavi- 2 .

The Ru ssian  factor  –  the  ma in str ateg y of bo th t he  op positiona n dt he  a u tho riti es

D ur ingthe elect i on campa ign ,  both t he  op p o sition an d the ruling  pa rty h a v e played t h e Ru s si a n car d agai nst th eir opp o nen ts . Candi dat e s  and thei r support e rsac cuse  each ot he r of  t aki ng  a supposedly p ro
 prime_minister. However,_the president will retain_important political_functions._In addition,_in_two years, the_country will elect_a new parliament –_the presidential elections_will_largely determine the fate of the parliamentary elections and show what political forces will_be_capable of_at_the_upcoming parliamentary elections.

The powers of_the future president The president_may: √_pardon convicts; √ award Georgian citizenship; √ represent_Georgia_in the international_arena, but all steps must be coordinated with the_government; √ formally sign the appointments_of the prime_minister_and_members of the High_Council of Justice; √ appoint local_elections, parliamentary elections and also early_elections; √ award and present awards; √_the president cannot be arrested or_prosecuted; √ the question of_the impeachment_of the president can be_raised on the_consensus of_one third of_the members of parliament.

Political observers say_that if the_pro-government candidate fails to win the_presidential_election, this will_be_a_clear message_to the authorities_that_the population_is_dissatisfied with the policies of the_ruling_Georgian Dream party.

Both candidates have equal chances_of winning

In the first_round_of elections, the difference_between the candidates’ votes was_less than one per cent –_Salome Zourabichvili_received 38.64_per cent of the vote, while Grigol Vashadze received 37.74 per_cent of the vote.

Never before has_Georgia needed two rounds_of presidential_elections.

In_the second round,_Vashadze_is counting_on the votes of the entire opposition._He has_already received the support of several_opposition parties, including the_second_largest opposition party, European Georgia, which_consists of former members of the_United National Movement party, which_broke_away_after a conflict with Saakashvili_at the end of 2016. European_Georgia won almost_11 per cent of the vote.

Zourabichvili, on_the_other hand, has the administrative resources_and_support of the ruling party.

According to_a_poll_by the American company Edison_Research conducted several days before the_second round of the elections, Vashadze is leading with_52 per cent_of the vote. The survey_was_commissioned_by pro-opposition TV company Rustavi-2.

The Russian factor – the main_strategy of_both the opposition_and the authorities

During the election campaign, both the opposition and_the ruling party have played the Russian_card against their opponents. Candidates and their supporters accuse each other_of taking a supposedly pro