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Georgia Challenger Draws Strong Support, Exit Poll Shows Georgia Challenger Draws Strong Support, Exit Poll Shows
(about 20 hours later)
TBILISI, Georgia — Exit polls in Georgia’s hotly contested parliamentary race suggested on Monday that a party backed by the billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili has edged out the party headed by Georgia’s larger-than-life president, Mikheil Saakashvili.TBILISI, Georgia — Exit polls in Georgia’s hotly contested parliamentary race suggested on Monday that a party backed by the billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili has edged out the party headed by Georgia’s larger-than-life president, Mikheil Saakashvili.
A poll by Edison Research broadcast on Georgian television showed that Georgian Dream, Mr. Ivanishvili’s party, had probably won more than half of the popular vote. This result is a sobering verdict on Mr. Saakashvili and his ruling team, who took power in the peaceful Rose Revolution nine years ago.A poll by Edison Research broadcast on Georgian television showed that Georgian Dream, Mr. Ivanishvili’s party, had probably won more than half of the popular vote. This result is a sobering verdict on Mr. Saakashvili and his ruling team, who took power in the peaceful Rose Revolution nine years ago.
The shift will have a practical effect because next year Georgia’s Parliament will take on many powers that now rest with the president, according to recent changes to the Constitution. But Mr. Saakashvili’s party may retain a majority of parliamentary seats because half the seats are allocated in individual races, rather than by overall party vote.The shift will have a practical effect because next year Georgia’s Parliament will take on many powers that now rest with the president, according to recent changes to the Constitution. But Mr. Saakashvili’s party may retain a majority of parliamentary seats because half the seats are allocated in individual races, rather than by overall party vote.
In his years in office, Mr. Saakashvili has restyled Georgia as a bastion of resistance to Russian influence and a laboratory for free-market economic policy.In his years in office, Mr. Saakashvili has restyled Georgia as a bastion of resistance to Russian influence and a laboratory for free-market economic policy.
He faced no formidable challenges until the emergence last year of Mr. Ivanishvili, a reclusive philanthropist who has spent years spreading his Russian-earned billions around Georgia’s countryside. Mr. Ivanishvili has tapped into long-simmering grievances over poverty and the heavy-handed ruling style of Mr. Saakashvili and his team.He faced no formidable challenges until the emergence last year of Mr. Ivanishvili, a reclusive philanthropist who has spent years spreading his Russian-earned billions around Georgia’s countryside. Mr. Ivanishvili has tapped into long-simmering grievances over poverty and the heavy-handed ruling style of Mr. Saakashvili and his team.
It was a remarkable upset. After the exit polls were released, cars flying Georgian Dream flags screamed down the central artery here, and thousands gathered in Freedom Square. Temur Butikashvili, 52, a filmmaker, said it was the first time Georgia had changed its leadership through an election.It was a remarkable upset. After the exit polls were released, cars flying Georgian Dream flags screamed down the central artery here, and thousands gathered in Freedom Square. Temur Butikashvili, 52, a filmmaker, said it was the first time Georgia had changed its leadership through an election.
“We have done what all our ancestors aspired to. We have calmly, quietly transferred power,” Mr. Butikashvili said.“We have done what all our ancestors aspired to. We have calmly, quietly transferred power,” Mr. Butikashvili said.
Of Mr. Saakashvili, he said: “We had great hopes when he came in. He studied in America; we thought he had an American mentality. But he turned from a democrat into an autocrat. He turned into an authoritarian.”Of Mr. Saakashvili, he said: “We had great hopes when he came in. He studied in America; we thought he had an American mentality. But he turned from a democrat into an autocrat. He turned into an authoritarian.”
With Monday’s election, many felt the country was headed for a reckoning. Georgia has a history of chaotic power struggles — the first and second post-Soviet presidents left office before the end of their terms to avoid deepening civil unrest — and Mr. Ivanishvili’s supporters have warned that they will take to the streets rather than accept vote counts that they consider fraudulent.With Monday’s election, many felt the country was headed for a reckoning. Georgia has a history of chaotic power struggles — the first and second post-Soviet presidents left office before the end of their terms to avoid deepening civil unrest — and Mr. Ivanishvili’s supporters have warned that they will take to the streets rather than accept vote counts that they consider fraudulent.
Both sides had grounds to declare victory, but big questions loom. Venomous attacks have marked the campaign, and it is hard to imagine the two leaders collaborating for the remaining year that remains of Mr. Saakashvili’s presidency.Both sides had grounds to declare victory, but big questions loom. Venomous attacks have marked the campaign, and it is hard to imagine the two leaders collaborating for the remaining year that remains of Mr. Saakashvili’s presidency.
The breakdown of parliamentary seats will be disputed. Even without a popular majority, Mr. Saakashvili’s governing party may still command more than half of the 150 seats in Parliament because under Georgia’s complex election rules, 73 are single-mandate, meaning they go to individual candidates who receive the most votes. A party with 76 or more seats will have a chance to elect a prime minister.The breakdown of parliamentary seats will be disputed. Even without a popular majority, Mr. Saakashvili’s governing party may still command more than half of the 150 seats in Parliament because under Georgia’s complex election rules, 73 are single-mandate, meaning they go to individual candidates who receive the most votes. A party with 76 or more seats will have a chance to elect a prime minister.
But more conclusive final results will not be in until Tuesday, and the outcome remains in doubt. Early Tuesday, Mr. Ivanishvili declared that according to his exit polls, his party had won 100 seats.But more conclusive final results will not be in until Tuesday, and the outcome remains in doubt. Early Tuesday, Mr. Ivanishvili declared that according to his exit polls, his party had won 100 seats.
But a leader of the governing party, David Darchiashvili, said his side had at least two-thirds, adding that, “I am confident this majority will be enough to elect our own prime minister.”But a leader of the governing party, David Darchiashvili, said his side had at least two-thirds, adding that, “I am confident this majority will be enough to elect our own prime minister.”
One of the major differences between Mr. Ivanishvili and Mr. Saakashvili is on Russia; Mr. Ivanishvili has criticized the president for his open hostility toward Russia and suggested that if he takes power, he will take a more conciliatory line and Russian markets will reopen to Georgian produce, wine and mineral water, providing an economic lift. Meanwhile, Mr. Saakashvili has accused his opponent of being a front for the Kremlin.One of the major differences between Mr. Ivanishvili and Mr. Saakashvili is on Russia; Mr. Ivanishvili has criticized the president for his open hostility toward Russia and suggested that if he takes power, he will take a more conciliatory line and Russian markets will reopen to Georgian produce, wine and mineral water, providing an economic lift. Meanwhile, Mr. Saakashvili has accused his opponent of being a front for the Kremlin.
There was palpable tension on Monday in the village of Karaleti, where identical concrete houses hold hundreds of families displaced from their land by the 2008 war with Russia.There was palpable tension on Monday in the village of Karaleti, where identical concrete houses hold hundreds of families displaced from their land by the 2008 war with Russia.
When activists from Mr. Ivanishvili’s party visited over the summer, they were hounded out of town by residents shouting and waving sticks. Dato Chulkhadze, 38, lounged with a group of brawny men in T-shirts opposite Karaleti’s polling station on Monday, recalling the episode with satisfaction.When activists from Mr. Ivanishvili’s party visited over the summer, they were hounded out of town by residents shouting and waving sticks. Dato Chulkhadze, 38, lounged with a group of brawny men in T-shirts opposite Karaleti’s polling station on Monday, recalling the episode with satisfaction.
“People started to shout, ‘You are Russian, you are Russian,’ and they had no answer — even a small child knows they are on Russia’s side,” said Mr. Chulkhadze. Asked about Mr. Ivanishvili’s changes, he said, “I pray to God nothing like this will happen. If it happens, the Russians will return.”“People started to shout, ‘You are Russian, you are Russian,’ and they had no answer — even a small child knows they are on Russia’s side,” said Mr. Chulkhadze. Asked about Mr. Ivanishvili’s changes, he said, “I pray to God nothing like this will happen. If it happens, the Russians will return.”
But several residents approached a reporter quietly to say that support for Mr. Ivanishvili was higher than it appeared, except people were afraid to say so publicly. One woman, who would not give her name, said she was voting for Mr. Ivanishvili because “we should not be afraid when we talk.”But several residents approached a reporter quietly to say that support for Mr. Ivanishvili was higher than it appeared, except people were afraid to say so publicly. One woman, who would not give her name, said she was voting for Mr. Ivanishvili because “we should not be afraid when we talk.”
The vote is under extreme scrutiny, and many are waiting for Tuesday’s assessments from 1,400 international observers. In this opposition stronghold, some voters were so alert for fraud that they brought their own pens to make sure they were not given invisible ink. Lawrence Sheets, a South Caucasus specialist with the International Crisis Group, said he was tired but relieved that Monday had passed in relative calm.The vote is under extreme scrutiny, and many are waiting for Tuesday’s assessments from 1,400 international observers. In this opposition stronghold, some voters were so alert for fraud that they brought their own pens to make sure they were not given invisible ink. Lawrence Sheets, a South Caucasus specialist with the International Crisis Group, said he was tired but relieved that Monday had passed in relative calm.
“Everyone’s been very tired — it’s been a year of this rhetoric and poisonous stuff — but in the end if it doesn’t end in something really unstable, which we feared, it’s a positive step for the country,” he said. “What other post-Soviet country has had this kind of process?”“Everyone’s been very tired — it’s been a year of this rhetoric and poisonous stuff — but in the end if it doesn’t end in something really unstable, which we feared, it’s a positive step for the country,” he said. “What other post-Soviet country has had this kind of process?”

Olesya Vartanyan contributed reporting.

Olesya Vartanyan contributed reporting.

This article has been revised to reflect the following correction:
Correction: October 2, 2012

Because of an editing error, an earlier version of this article included a quote that was misattributed. It was President Mikheil Saakashvili, not David Darchiashvili, who said in a television appearance Monday night as exit polls showed Mr.Saakashvili leading in the more rural parts of Georgia and his challenger prevailing in Tbilisi: “It doesn’t mean that we are dividing the country into Tbilisi and provinces. We are all Georgians, we are all citizens of our country. We should all stand together and we should all manage to work together in frames of existing democracy.”

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