Georgians voted on Saturday in elections that will determine the fledgling democracy's European aspirations, amid growing concerns over the ruling party's pro-Russian drift. The parliamentary election pits an unprecedented union of pro-Western opposition forces against the ruling Georgian Dream accused of stifling democracy and turning towards Russia. Brussels has warned that the vote will determine European Union-candidate Tbilisi's chances of joining the bloc.
Opinion polls in the country of four million indicate opposition parties could get enough votes to form a coalition to supplant Georgian Dream, controlled by powerful billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili. Pro-Western President Salome Zurabishvili said the vote would "determine Georgia's future", while the chair of the United National Movement opposition party, Tina Bokuchava, promised a "great day of national victory". Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said he was confident Georgian Dream would win a commanding majority in the 150-seat parliament, calling for "maximum mobilisation" of supporters.
Central Election Commission spokeswoman, Natia Ioseliani, said turnout was 22 percent by noon (0800 GMT), four hours after voting began. At a polling station in central Tbilisi, 48-year-old musician Giorgi Kipshidze told AFP: "I voted for the opposition, and I am sure they are going to win today." "Most Georgians have realised that the current government is dragging us back towards the Russian swamp and away from Europe, where Geor.