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| Georgia votes in elections as Saakashvili's rule ends | Georgia votes in elections as Saakashvili's rule ends |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Georgia is voting in presidential elections that will bring to an end a decade in power for pro-Western President Mikheil Saakashvili. | Georgia is voting in presidential elections that will bring to an end a decade in power for pro-Western President Mikheil Saakashvili. |
| The frontrunner among the 23 candidates is a close ally of Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, Mr Saakashvili's bitter rival. | The frontrunner among the 23 candidates is a close ally of Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, Mr Saakashvili's bitter rival. |
| Following the polls, constitutional amendments will significantly reduce presidential powers. | Following the polls, constitutional amendments will significantly reduce presidential powers. |
| Mr Saakashvili is barred from standing as he has already served two terms. | Mr Saakashvili is barred from standing as he has already served two terms. |
| Mr Ivanishvili's win in parliamentary elections last year ushered in the former Soviet republic's first legal transfer of power. | Mr Ivanishvili's win in parliamentary elections last year ushered in the former Soviet republic's first legal transfer of power. |
| The billionaire businessman also intends to resign within weeks of the vote, saying he has achieved his aims. | The billionaire businessman also intends to resign within weeks of the vote, saying he has achieved his aims. |
| He has called Sunday's vote Georgia's "first European-style election". | He has called Sunday's vote Georgia's "first European-style election". |
| Vibrant campaigns | Vibrant campaigns |
| Polling stations are open from 08:00 local time (04:00 GMT) until 20:00. Final results must be published no later than 16 November. | Polling stations are open from 08:00 local time (04:00 GMT) until 20:00. Final results must be published no later than 16 November. |
| If no candidate wins more than 50% of the vote, a run-off between the two top-placed candidates must be held two weeks after the results of the first round are published. | If no candidate wins more than 50% of the vote, a run-off between the two top-placed candidates must be held two weeks after the results of the first round are published. |
| Opinion polls suggest a win for philosopher and former Education Minister Giorgi Margvelashvili, a member of Mr Ivanishvili's Georgian Dream coalition. | Opinion polls suggest a win for philosopher and former Education Minister Giorgi Margvelashvili, a member of Mr Ivanishvili's Georgian Dream coalition. |
| But a second round with David Bakratze, who represents Mr Saakashvili's United National Movement (UNM) remains a possibility. | But a second round with David Bakratze, who represents Mr Saakashvili's United National Movement (UNM) remains a possibility. |
| Nino Burjenadze, another top contender, is one the most well known female politicians in Georgia. | Nino Burjenadze, another top contender, is one the most well known female politicians in Georgia. |
| "It is the first time that the candidate from the ruling party is not using administrative resources to boost his campaign," Mr Ivanishvili told the BBC. | "It is the first time that the candidate from the ruling party is not using administrative resources to boost his campaign," Mr Ivanishvili told the BBC. |
| "The election is taking place is a peaceful and balanced environment. This is the first European-style election in Georgian history." | "The election is taking place is a peaceful and balanced environment. This is the first European-style election in Georgian history." |
| Unlike most elections in other post-Soviet countries, this vote in Georgia is a genuine process with vibrant campaigns and a wide choice of candidates, says the BBC's Rayhan Demytrie in the capital Tbilisi. | |
| The country is moving closer to a parliamentary democracy although the president will formally remain the head of state and retain an important role in foreign policy, our correspondent adds. | The country is moving closer to a parliamentary democracy although the president will formally remain the head of state and retain an important role in foreign policy, our correspondent adds. |
| Since coming to power in the bloodless 2003 "Rose Revolution" Mr Saakashvili has implemented reforms which helped root out corruption. | Since coming to power in the bloodless 2003 "Rose Revolution" Mr Saakashvili has implemented reforms which helped root out corruption. |
| He pursued a pro-Western foreign policy and improved public services in the Caucasus republic, where poverty remains widespread. | He pursued a pro-Western foreign policy and improved public services in the Caucasus republic, where poverty remains widespread. |
| But the country's prime minister, who is also Georgia's richest man, has dismissed these achievements, calling Mr Saakashvili a "liar" and a "dictator". | But the country's prime minister, who is also Georgia's richest man, has dismissed these achievements, calling Mr Saakashvili a "liar" and a "dictator". |
| He has indicated that the outgoing president could face questioning or even prosecution over the alleged crimes of his government after his term ends. | He has indicated that the outgoing president could face questioning or even prosecution over the alleged crimes of his government after his term ends. |
| Mr Ivanishvili has not yet named a successor as prime minister. | Mr Ivanishvili has not yet named a successor as prime minister. |