TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party is gearing up for the October local elections, with Tbilisi Mayor Kakhi Kaladze expected to run for a third term.
Kaladze, a former professional footballer, confirmed this week that he will be the party’s candidate for mayor of the capital, although he has not formally declared his candidacy yet.
Earlier this year, there was speculation that party tops might replace Kaladze with another candidate. Those rumors have now subsided, and the mayor has begun preparations for his and his party’s election campaign, promising to announce GD’s full slate of mayoral and city council candidates across the country in the coming weeks.
Opposition parties Lelo and For Georgia, both of which plan to contest the election, have announced they will support a neutral, non-party candidate for mayor. No name has been confirmed yet, despite earlier rumors that Lelo member Aleko Elisashvili might be nominated, a claim the party has denied.
Political observers believe the ruling party has a strong advantage, especially in Tbilisi, but note that public dissatisfaction with local issues could open up a space for a competitive race. A recent fatal collapse of an apartment building in Tbilisi was seized on by the opposition to question the mayor’s governance.
Kaladze himself has claimed that GD would achieve “100 percent victory” across all municipalities, both in city councils and in the races for mayors around the country. Analysts think the outcome in Tbilisi could influence national politics. There is an expectation that if Kaladze consolidates his position, it could make him the most powerful political figure in the country for the next five years.
