Four from president's party to run for presidential election in Georgia

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili's party the United National Movement has put forward four candidates who will take part in the primary elections to determine the party's candidate in the presidential elections.

Parliamentary minority leader David Bakradze and MPs Giorgi Baramidze, Zurab Japaridze and Shota Malashkhia will participate in the primary elections, one of the United National Movement leaders Giorgi Vashadze said at a briefing on Saturday.

"This is the first time that a similar procedure is being held in Georgia," Vashadze said. "We did this despite the authorities' pressure and want to initiate such a democratic practice."

According to him, the primary elections will start in Kutaisi on Monday and run for a month. A presidential candidate from the United National Movement will be announced on July 30. Voting will be held online.

The presidential elections will be held in October this year. Mikhail Saakashvili himself has no right to participate as he has held the position for two terms, set by the Georgian Constitution.


/Trend/