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2021 Georgian local elections

← 2017 2 October 2021 (first round) 30 October 2021 (second round) 2025 →
Turnout	51.92% (first round) 49.09% (second round)
Party Georgian Dream UNM For Georgia Popular vote 824,755 541,188 137,764 Percentage 46.75% 30.67% 7.81%   Party Lelo European Georgia Alliance of Patriots Popular vote 47,861 29,251 25,697 Percentage 2.71% 1.66% 1.46%

The 2021 Georgian local elections (Georgian: საქართველოს ადგილობრივი თვითმმართველობის ორგანოების არჩევნები) were held on 2 and 30 October to elect the bodies of local government of Georgia.

Background

19 April agreement

On 19 April 2021, the ruling Georgian Dream party and the opposition signed an agreement, which ended a six-month political crisis stemming from the contested 2020 parliamentary elections. The agreement stipulated snap parliamentary elections if the Georgian Dream party would garner less than 43% of the vote in the October 2021 local elections. It also envisaged a change in the electoral system at the local level: 4:1 proportion of proportional and majoritarian seats in five major cities and 2:1 proportion in all others. At the same time, a 3% threshold was set in the proportional system in the regions and a 2.5% threshold in Tbilisi. The 40% demand was set in the majoritarian system. The Georgian Parliament adopted relevant amendments to the Election Code on June 28, 2021.

Most parties signed the agreement, and elected opposition MPs took up their parliamentary mandates which they had refused until then. However, the largest opposition party United National Movement refused to join the agreement, which later led to Georgian Dream withdrawing from the agreement two months before the October 2021 local elections. According to the head of the Georgian Dream party Irakli Kobakhidze, the agreement "failed to accomplish its goals" because of the UNM's refusal to join it.

Arrest of Mikheil Saakashvili

Former President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili, who left Georgia in 2013 and was condemned by the Tbilisi City Court to six years in prison in absentia for abuse of power, embezzlement, and his implication in the attempted murder of an opposition MP, announced his return to Georgia on 1 October 2021, on the eve of the local elections. Saakashvili went live on Facebook and called on his followers to march on the capital, Tbilisi. Some government officials initially denied Saakashvili's arrival and said that he was in Ukraine. However, later on the same day Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili held press briefing, where he announced that Saakashvili was arrested in Tbilisi. According to the investigation, Saakashvili entered the country secretly, hiding in a semi-trailer truck loaded with milk products. He illegally crossed the state border of Georgia, bypassing the customs control.

Electoral system

Local self-government is the right and ability of citizens of Georgia to solve, within the legislation of Georgia, local issues through local authorities elected by them. There are two types of self-governing units (municipalities): self-governing cities and self-governing communities. A self-governing city is a settlement of an urban category, while a self-governing community is an aggregation of several settlements with administrative boundaries and an administrative center. There are 5 self-governing cities and 59 self-governing communities. Self-governing cities are Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Batumi, Rustavi, Poti. The representative bodies (a representative council, in Georgian Sakrebulo) and a mayor, the head of the executive bodies, are directly elected by the citizens of Georgia registered in a self-governing unit to a four-year term. Members of Sakrebulos of the self-governing communities and the self-governing cities are elected through the majoritarian and proportional electoral systems. The election date is appointed by the President of Georgia 60 days prior to the polls and countersigned by Prime Minister.

The Annex No. 1 to the сurrent Election Code regulates the compositions of Sakrebulos of self-governing communities and self-governing cities, except the Tbilisi Sakrebulo, which is composed of 50 members, out of which 10 members are elected in the territory of local single-seat majoritarian electoral districts, and 40 are elected through the proportional electoral system in the whole territory of Tbilisi municipality.

Compositions of Sakrebulos of self-governing communities and self-governing cities (except for Tbilisi City) according to the Annex No. 1 to the Election Code:

2021 Tbilisi mayoral election

2021 Tbilisi mayoral election

← 2017 2 October 2021 (first round) 30 October 2021 (second round) 2025 →
Turnout	49.11% (first round) 47.74% (second round)
Nominee Kakha Kaladze Nika Melia Giorgi Gakharia Party Georgian Dream UNM For Georgia Popular vote 216,344 163,489 45,257 Percentage 45.01% 34.01% 9.41%   Nominee Ana Dolidze Ana Bibilashvili Giorgi Lomia Party For the People Lelo APG Popular vote 21,935 12,161 7,033 Percentage 4.56% 2.53% 1.46%

The 2021 Tbilisi mayoral election (Georgian: თბილისის მერის არჩევნები) was held on 2 and 30 October 2021 to elect the Mayor of Tbilisi in parallel to the Tbilisi City Sakrebulo elections.

The main candidates for the mayoral election were Kakha Kaladze, the incumbent Mayor of Tbilisi and former Minister of Energy from the ruling Georgian Dream party, Nika Melia, Member of Parliament from the United National Movement, and Giorgi Gakharia, former Prime Minister and Minister of Internal Affairs from the recently established For Georgia party.

In total, 16 candidates were nominated for the Tbilisi mayoral election.

Opinion polls

Date	Pollster	GD	UNM	For Georgia	Girchi MF	EG	Lelo	TF	Labour Party	Patriots	Girchi	Citizens	Others/NA	Lead
September 2021	Edison Research	36%	27%	11%	4%	2%	4%	2%	4%	2%	2%	1%	5%	9%
September 2021	IPSOS	35%	30%	9%	2%	4%	3%	3%	3%	2%		1%	8%	5%
September 2021	Edison Research	33%	25%	10%	4%	2%	3%	2%	6%	3%	2%	1%	8%	8%
August 2021	GORBI Archived 2021-09-05 at the Wayback Machine	47.2%	26.8%	6.9%	2.4%	1.4%	2.6%	2.1%	1.2%	3.4%	0.8%	1.6%	3.6%	20.4%
July 2021	Edison Research	32%	24%	13%	2%	1%	4%	4%	3%	3%	2%	2%	13%	8%
July 2021	IPSOS	32%	23%	8%	5%	3%	2%	2%	3%	3%	1%	2%	16%	9%

Results

Municipality	Turnout	GD	UNM	FG	Lelo	EG	APG	GMF	GLP	TF	FUG	Others	Lead
Tbilisi	49.11	40.40	27.96	8.89	3.63	1.16	1.65	3.30	1.31	1.01		10.69	12.44
Sagarejo	47.90	56.03	31.78	2.13	3.77	0.90	1.77	0.93	1.31	0.74		1.54	24.25
Gurjaani	55.69	51.06	32.88	4.47	1.94	3.75	1.58	0.75	1.75	1.09		0.73	18.18
Sighnaghi	56.67	53.69	33.75	3.90	1.63	0.90	1.63	0.83	1.81	0.92		0.94	19.94
Dedoplistskaro	55.73	62.58	23.96	1.99	2.61	1.55		1.02	1.44			4.85	38.62
Lagodekhi	51.57	47.08	37.36	3.09	1.36	1.75	1.30	0.79	1.42	4.99		0.86	9.72
Kvareli	59.46	50.25	35.99	5.54	2.83	0.41	1.65		1.22	1.04		1.07	14.26
Telavi	54.80	44.65	40.33	5.27	2.40	1.19	1.21		2.13	1.67		1.15	4.32
Akhmeta	49.76	46.44	41.33	3.07	1.82	0.60	2.49		2.47	0.66		1.12	5.11
Tianeti	58.29	42.94	18.74	7.17	1.18	1.10	1.82		1.68	2.03	22.52	0.82	20.42
Rustavi	48.70	36.23	38.35	7.44	2.28	1.04	2.21	2.59	1.87	1.39		6.60	2.12
Gardabani	42.75	56.38	34.66	2.18	1.54	0.69	1.59		0.98	0.70		1.28	21.72
Marneuli	47.29	64.75	26.50	1.38		2.21	0.37		2.23	2.20		0.36	38.25
Bolnisi	43.56	68.16	24.57	1.91	1.01	0.19	0.99	1.69	0.48	0.40		0.60	42.59
Dmanisi	57.23	49.49	42.16	0.44	0.98	1.04	0.67		0.41			4.81	7.33
Tsalka	45.18	53.10	21.70	5.92	2.05	2.02	0.63		0.63	3.10		10.85	31.40
Tetritskaro	50.54	54.07	27.66	4.45	3.95	1.38	2.38		1.53	1.78		2.80	26.41
Mtskheta	56.37	51.36	31.80	5.26	1.73	0.56	2.73	1.30	1.92	0.99		2.35	19.56
Dusheti	47.02	53.07	20.88	9.58	4.00	2.91	3.12		3.90			2.54	32.19
Kazbegi	63.27	48.32	6.56	4.59	3.11	0.49	3.37		1.17	1.63	13.98	16.78	34.34
Kaspi	51.39	47.78	34.27	7.67	1.42	0.89	3.14		1.77	0.64		2.42	13.51
Gori	51.12	48.45	31.74	10.26	2.12	0.94	1.77	1.34	1.66	0.81		0.91	16.71
Kareli	51.77	44.29	36.64	7.58	4.20	1.07	1.69	0.87	1.67	0.88		1.11	7.65
Khashuri	51.26	41.69	32.72	10.63	3.97	0.72	1.67	1.53	1.92	1.70		3.45	8.97
Borjomi	54.50	55.99	24.15	3.75	2.58	2.02	4.18		1.67	1.26		4.40	31.84
Akhaltsikhe	60.09	54.78	28.88	6.44	2.12	3.00	0.71		2.31	0.73		1.03	25.90
Adigeni	67.80	56.40	35.10	2.48	2.39	1.43	0.89		1.32				21.30
Aspindza	71.08	61.27	24.59	2.24	3.17	3.40	1.91		1.05	1.72		0.65	36.68
Akhalkalaki	49.75	76.25	7.93	2.62	3.54	5.50	1.72		0.12	1.17		1.15	68.32
Ninotsminda	54.98	84.03	5.52	4.84		3.25	0.38		0.14	1.69		0.15	78.51
Oni	64.73	48.10	15.85	18.05	6.78	2.56	3.02			1.14		4.50	32.25
Ambrolauri	66.99	55.46	18.91	13.21	3.31	2.31	1.65		2.22	1.37		1.56	36.55
Tsageri	63.84	48.57	20.86	13.62	5.95	1.47	1.58		3.03	4.75		0.17	27.71
Lentekhi	54.64	49.75	10.27	6.86	7.04	4.07	1.75		0.97	3.01		16.28	39.48
Mestia	62.39	61.71	11.88	7.35	6.12	3.35	1.36	0.44	0.99	1.25		6.55	49.83
Kharagauli	65.51	54.83	26.47	6.85	4.75	1.47	2.10		1.70	1.63		0.20	28.36
Terjola	61.28	46.94	30.04	5.37	2.53	8.79	1.31	0.75	1.55	1.97		0.75	16.90
Sachkhere	58.27	80.23	6.83	4.93	2.83	1.04	1.31	1.12	0.73	0.78		0.20	73.40
Zestaponi	54.86	48.31	32.47	7.37	2.28	1.81	1.25	0.99	1.71	1.61		2.20	15.84
Baghdati	57.42	47.27	33.94	5.19	3.04	2.49	1.19	1.24	1.54	1.24		2.86	13.33
Vani	59.77	59.96	27.41	2.06	1.59	4.82	0.77		1.31	1.06		1.02	32.55
Samtredia	53.41	52.24	30.53	3.99	3.50	1.85	1.11	0.81	1.21	2.83		1.93	21.71
Khoni	61.35	53.31	21.03	4.98	1.27	13.99	1.55		1.45	1.21		1.21	32.28
Chiatura	50.03	55.33	20.80	7.64	3.52	2.35	2.53		1.55	4.03		2.25	34.53
Tkibuli	56.26	48.46	34.97	4.88	3.69	1.36	1.68	1.02	1.38	2.00		0.56	13.49
Tskaltubo	51.58	44.72	39.73	4.21	2.55	1.84	1.53	0.66	1.44	2.18		1.14	4.99
Kutaisi	44.53	39.15	37.56	6.71	2.02	1.12	1.21	1.63	1.72	3.31		5.57	1.59
Ozurgeti	59.58	50.44	25.88	9.29	2.11	1.90	1.33	1.07	1.60	1.33		5.05	24.56
Lanchkhuti	58.98	53.52	22.62	9.17	3.86	2.60	1.13	0.78	1.32	1.41		3.59	30.90
Chokhatauri	64.22	52.55	22.25	11.28	2.50	2.63	1.65		1.29	1.78		4.07	30.30
Abasha	63.42	42.87	30.62	8.27	2.24	1.39	0.93		3.16	2.07		8.45	12.25
Senaki	56.28	38.21	39.94	15.56	0.98	0.98	0.50	0.56	0.97	0.83		1.47	1.73
Martvili	63.75	36.53	30.02	17.10	0.83	2.73	0.48		0.46	2.51		9.34	6.51
Khobi	58.77	42.78	33.81	14.08	2.24	2.25	0.70	0.53	2.15	0.77		0.69	8.97
Zugdidi	43.90	40.02	43.11	10.74	1.44	1.04	0.48	0.72	0.71	0.64		1.10	3.09
Tsalenjikha	51.11	34.79	37.78	18.97	3.35	2.15	0.74		0.71	0.66		0.85	2.98
Chkhorotsku	61.69	34.02	32.12	23.19	3.21	1.31	0.61		0.48	1.68		3.38	1.90
Poti	52.01	41.76	31.41	13.19	1.84	2.36	0.65	1.58	1.36	1.28		4.57	10.35
Batumi	52.36	39.82	38.41	10.03	3.29	0.99	1.21	1.58	0.92	1.08		2.67	1.41
Keda	71.93	51.52	30.66	6.68	3.31	2.60	1.88	0.46	1.43	0.79		0.67	20.86
Kobuleti	56.34	48.25	38.06	7.43	1.53	0.46	0.91	0.61	0.60	1.01		1.14	10.19
Shuakhevi	66.25	45.99	34.97	7.77	3.79	2.06	2.27	0.49	0.50	1.12		1.04	11.02
Khelvachauri	58.31	41.18	35.87	15.08	1.97	1.82	1.12	0.68	0.88	0.63		0.77	5.31
Khulo	61.61	46.39	34.96	6.42	4.08	2.07	0.70	0.52	0.35	3.16		1.35	11.43
Source: CEC CEC

^* denotes a self-governing city.

See also

• Administrative divisions of Georgia (country)
• Local government in Georgia (country)
• Tbilisi City Assembly
• Batumi City Assembly
• Kutaisi City Assembly
• Poti City Assembly
• Rustavi City Assembly

References

1. "Ruling Georgian Dream leaves EU-mediated agreement". Agenda.ge. 28 July 2021. Archived from the original on 30 June 2021. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
2. "Georgian Dream Quits EU-brokered Deal". Civil.ge. 2021-07-28. Retrieved 2022-01-05.
3. "Saakashvili Convicted Of Abuse Of Power, Sentenced In Absentia". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 29 June 2018. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
4. "Georgia Arrests Ex-President Saakashvili After He Returns From Exile". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 1 October 2021. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
5. "Prosecution Service of Georgia Issues Indictment against Convict Mikheil Saakashvili for Illegal Crossing of State Border of Georgia". Prosecution Service of Georgia. 20 October 2021. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
6. ადგილობრივი თვითმმართველობის კოდექსი [Code of Local Self-Government] (Organic law 1958-IIს) (in Georgian). 5 February 2014. Retrieved 5 September 2021.

v t e Elections and referendums in Georgia
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See also: Election Administration Elections and referendums in Abkhazia Adjara South Ossetia

• 2021 in Georgia (country)
• Local elections in Georgia (country)
• October 2021 events in Georgia (country)
• 2021 elections in Europe