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Georgia's President Concedes Election

Businessman's opposition coalition set to take power

By the Associated Press

Posted Oct 2, 2012 6:04 AM CDT

(AP) – Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has conceded defeat in the parliamentary election and says the opposition now has the right to form a government. Speaking today on television, he said: "It's clear from the preliminary results that the opposition has the lead and it should form the government. And I as president should help them with this."

Early results show an opposition coalition led by billionaire businessman Bidzina Ivanishvili with what appears to be an insurmountable lead as voters turned away from Saakashvili and the party that has been in power for almost nine years.
Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili and his wife Sandra Roelofs cast their ballots as their son Nikoloz stands beside them at a polling station in Tbilisi, Georgia, Monday, Oct. 1, 2012.
Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili and his wife Sandra Roelofs cast their ballots as their son Nikoloz stands beside them at a polling station in Tbilisi, Georgia, Monday, Oct. 1, 2012.   (Efrem Lukatsky)
Georgia's billionaire and opposition leader Bidzina Ivanishvili reacts with supporters at his office in Tbilisi Georgia, Monday, Oct.1, 2012. Georgia's opposition coalition 'Georgian Dream' is leading the country's just-concluded parliamentary elections, according to the exit polls of a U.S.-based exit poll specialist company Edison Research and a...
Georgia's billionaire and opposition leader Bidzina Ivanishvili reacts with supporters at his office in Tbilisi Georgia, Monday, Oct.1, 2012. Georgia's opposition coalition 'Georgian Dream' is leading...   ((AP Photo/str))
Opposition supporters react in the central square during a rally in Tbilisi Georgia, Monday, Oct.1, 2012.
Opposition supporters react in the central square during a rally in Tbilisi Georgia, Monday, Oct.1, 2012.   (Shakh Aivazov)
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COMMENTS
Showing 1 of 1 comment
JMullins
Oct 2, 2012 1:06 PM CDT
This is a direct result of Honey-booboo being from Georgia.  (Sorry couldn't resist.)

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Georgia • Mikheil Saakashvili • parliamentary elections • election • Bidzina Ivanishvili

 
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