1999 Georgian parliamentary election

1999 Georgian parliamentary election
Country	Georgia
Type	parliamentary
Previous election	1995 Georgian parliamentary election
Previous year	1995
Next election	2003 Georgian parliamentary election
Next year	2003
Seats for election	All 235 seats in the Parliament of Georgia
Majority seats	118
Election date	31 October and 14 November 1999
Turnout	68.0%
Leader1	Eduard Shevardnadze
Party1	Citizens' Union of Georgia
Seats1	130
Popular vote1	575,728
Percentage1	41.75%
Leader2	Jumber Patiashvili
Party2	Georgian Traditionalists Union
Seats2	58
Popular vote2	303,139
Percentage2	21.99%
Leader3	Aslan Abashidze
Party3	Union for Democratic Revival
Seats3	15
Popular vote3	194,096
Percentage3	14.08%
Title	Chairman of the Parliament
Before election	Zurab Zhvania
Before party	Citizens' Union of Georgia
After election	Zurab Zhvania
After party	Citizens' Union of Georgia

1999 Georgian parliamentary election was held on 31 October and 14 November 1999 to elect members of the Parliament of Georgia. The election was a contest between the ruling party of President Eduard Shevardnadze and a fragmented opposition, taking place in a period of significant economic hardship and regional separatism. The result was a decisive victory for Shevardnadze's Citizens' Union of Georgia, which secured a strong parliamentary majority, though international observers noted serious irregularities.

Background

The political landscape in the years preceding the election was dominated by the presidency of Eduard Shevardnadze, who had come to power following the Georgian Civil War and the overthrow of Zviad Gamsakhurdia. The country faced immense challenges, including the unresolved conflicts in Abkhazia and the South Ossetian conflict, widespread corruption, and a severe economic crisis. The previous parliamentary term, which began after the 1995 Georgian parliamentary election, saw the consolidation of Shevardnadze's authority, though his government was increasingly criticized for its failure to improve living standards. Tensions were also high due to an assassination attempt against Shevardnadze in 1998, which he blamed on hardline opponents.

Electoral system

The election utilized a parallel voting system to fill the 235 seats of the unicameral Parliament. A total of 150 members were elected from single-member constituencies using a two-round system, where a candidate required an absolute majority to win in the first round, otherwise a second round was held. The remaining 85 seats were allocated by proportional representation from a single nationwide district, with a threshold set at 7% of the vote for parties to gain representation. This system was established by the Constitution of Georgia (1995) and the subsequent Organic Law of Georgia on Election of the Parliament.

Parties and candidates

The dominant force was the pro-presidential Citizens' Union of Georgia (CUG), led by Shevardnadze and parliamentary chairman Zurab Zhvania. The primary opposition bloc was the Georgian Traditionalists Union, headed by former Politburo member Jumber Patiashvili. Another significant contender was the Union for Democratic Revival, a regional party based in the Autonomous Republic of Adjara and led by its powerful leader Aslan Abashidze. Other notable parties included the Labour Party of Georgia under Shalva Natelashvili, the Industry Will Save Georgia bloc, and the United Republican Party associated with figures like David Usupashvili. Numerous smaller parties and independent candidates also contested the constituency seats.

Campaign

The campaign period was marked by a significant advantage for the ruling CUG, which enjoyed extensive coverage on state-controlled media outlets like the Georgian Public Broadcaster. Key issues included economic recovery, anti-corruption measures, and relations with international bodies like the International Monetary Fund and the Council of Europe. Opposition parties, particularly the Georgian Traditionalists Union, criticized the government's economic record and alleged authoritarian tendencies. The campaign in Adjara was heavily controlled by Aslan Abashidze's party apparatus. Incidents of intimidation against opposition activists and biased media reporting were reported by monitoring groups such as the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

Results

The Citizens' Union of Georgia won a commanding victory, securing 130 seats total (85 proportional and 45 majoritarian). The Georgian Traditionalists Union became the main opposition with 58 seats (30 proportional and 28 majoritarian). The Union for Democratic Revival gained 15 seats, all from the proportional list. The Labour Party of Georgia narrowly missed the threshold, receiving 6.8% of the party-list vote. Voter turnout was recorded at 68.0%. The Central Election Commission of Georgia officially ratified the results, though many opposition figures and international observers from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights cited numerous violations including ballot stuffing, irregularities in voter lists, and pressure on public sector employees.

Aftermath

The election solidified the parliamentary control of President Eduard Shevardnadze and the Citizens' Union of Georgia, allowing for the re-election of Zurab Zhvania as Chairman of the Parliament. However, the legitimacy of the vote was widely questioned, contributing to growing public disillusionment that would culminate in the Rose Revolution four years later. The strengthened position of Aslan Abashidze in Adjara further entrenched regional autonomy challenges. Internationally, the critical assessment by the OSCE and other bodies strained Georgia's relations with Western partners, even as the country sought closer integration with institutions like NATO.

Category:1999 elections in Georgia (country) Category:Parliamentary elections in Georgia (country)