This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-37593341
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Georgia ruling party seeks new mandate in parliamentary election | Georgia ruling party seeks new mandate in parliamentary election |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| People in Georgia are voting in parliamentary elections, which are seen as a test of stability for the former Soviet republic. | |
| More than 20 political parties are competing for seats in the assembly. | More than 20 political parties are competing for seats in the assembly. |
| The main battle is expected to be between the governing Georgian Dream party and the opposition United National Movement (UNM). | The main battle is expected to be between the governing Georgian Dream party and the opposition United National Movement (UNM). |
| However, many voters were still undecided on the eve of the elections, according to opinion polls. | However, many voters were still undecided on the eve of the elections, according to opinion polls. |
| They are weary about the elections, as poverty, unemployment and debt continue to blight their lives, the BBC's Rayhan Demytrie in Tbilisi reports. | They are weary about the elections, as poverty, unemployment and debt continue to blight their lives, the BBC's Rayhan Demytrie in Tbilisi reports. |
| Polls opened at 08:00 local time (04:00 GMT) and close at 20:00. | |
| Political parties need to clear the 5% threshold to be represented in the 150-member parliament. | Political parties need to clear the 5% threshold to be represented in the 150-member parliament. |
| Georgian Dream hopes to secure a further mandate to govern, claiming modest economic success stories over the past four years - including a trade deal with Europe. | Georgian Dream hopes to secure a further mandate to govern, claiming modest economic success stories over the past four years - including a trade deal with Europe. |
| The UNM, which brought Georgia international recognition for its reforms under its flamboyant leader and former President Mikheil Saakashvili, was voted out in 2012 following a prison abuse scandal. | The UNM, which brought Georgia international recognition for its reforms under its flamboyant leader and former President Mikheil Saakashvili, was voted out in 2012 following a prison abuse scandal. |
| The UNM hopes that Georgians have grown tired of the ruling party and its billionaire founder Bidzina Ivanishvili, our correspondent says. | The UNM hopes that Georgians have grown tired of the ruling party and its billionaire founder Bidzina Ivanishvili, our correspondent says. |
| Despite having officially left politics, Mr Ivanishvili is still widely considered to be the country's chief decision-maker. | Despite having officially left politics, Mr Ivanishvili is still widely considered to be the country's chief decision-maker. |
| Still, in a region of predominantly authoritarian states, Georgia is a post-Soviet success story with a multi-party democracy, our correspondent adds. | Still, in a region of predominantly authoritarian states, Georgia is a post-Soviet success story with a multi-party democracy, our correspondent adds. |