Istanbul: Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has announced that the ruling Georgian Dream - Democratic Georgia party is securing a decisive victory in local elections across all municipalities, gathering more than 70% of the vote. This announcement was made during a press briefing where Kobakhidze shared data from the party's election headquarters, indicating their lead in both mayoral and city council elections in Tbilisi and other major cities.

According to Anadolu Agency, voters are in the process of selecting mayors for key cities including Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Batumi, Rustavi, and Poti, alongside representatives for 59 municipalities and 64 city councils. The elections see participation from twelve parties, with nine candidates contesting for the mayoral position in Tbilisi. The ruling party has put forward the incumbent mayor, Kakha Kaladze, while opposition groups such as Strong Georgia - Lelo and Gakharia for Georgia are backing former lawmaker Irakli Kupradze.

The voter turnout is facilitated by over 3.5 million registered citizens casting their votes at 3,061 polling stations nationwide. A significant number of these stations are employing electronic ballot boxes to streamline the voting process. Prime Minister Kobakhidze expressed gratitude towards the voters for their support and emphasized the government's commitment to honoring this trust through diligent governance.