Presidential elections were held in

Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States Georgia may also refer to: Places Historical states and entities * Related to the ...

on January 4, 2004.Georgia: Election for President
IFES Election Guide The election followed the resignation of former President

Eduard Shevardnadze Eduard Ambrosis dze Shevardnadze ( ka, ედუარდ ამბროსის ძე შევარდნაძე}, romanized: ; 25 January 1928 – 7 July 2014) was a Soviet and Georgian politician and diplomat who governed Georgia for ...

. As expected, the main opposition leader, Mikhail Saakashvili, was soon shown by exit polls to be heading for an overwhelming victory. According to preliminary results issued on January 6 by the Central Election Commission, Saakashvili won over 97% of the votes cast. The other candidates received less than 2% each. They were former presidential envoy to the

Imereti Imereti ( Georgian: იმერეთი) is a region of Georgia situated in the central-western part of the republic along the middle and upper reaches of the Rioni River. Imereti is the most populous region in Georgia. It consists of 11 munic ...

region

Temur Shashiashvili Timur, Temur, Temür, Temir or Tömör is a masculine Turkic and Mongolic given name which literally means ''iron''. It is a cognate of the Bosnian and Turkish name Demir. In Indonesian, timur translates to ''east'', and symbolizes hope by ...

, leader of the Lawyers of Georgia Party

Kartlos Garibashvili Kartlos () is the eponymous ancestor of the Georgians (Kartvelians) in Georgian mythology, more specifically of the nation of Kartli (Caucasian Iberia). Kartlos is introduced in the medieval Georgian Chronicles (''Kartlis Tskhovreba''), presumabl ...

, one of the leaders of the political organization ''Mdzleveli'',

Zurab Kelekhsashvili Zurab (Georgian: ზურაბ) is a Georgian masculine given name. It derives from the Persian Sohrab, a name of the legendary warrior from Ferdowsi's ''Shahnameh''. It may refer to: * Zurab Adeishvili (born 1972), Georgian jurist and politicia ...

, the President of the Coalition of Non-Government Organisations of the Disabled

Zaza Sikharulidze Zaza Sikharulidze (born 18 April 1960) is a Georgian politician, poet, publicist, attorney and academic. He is one of the leaders of the National Liberation Movement and is involved in civil society. He is the founder of the non-governmental movemen ...

, and leader of the ''

David Agmashenebeli David (; , "beloved one") (traditional spelling), , ''Dāwūd''; grc-koi, Δαυΐδ, Dauíd; la, Davidus, David; gez , ዳዊት, ''Dawit''; xcl, Դաւիթ, ''Dawitʿ''; cu, Давíдъ, ''Davidŭ''; possibly meaning "beloved one". w ...

Party'' Roin Liparteliani.

Results

Early on 5 January Saakashvili claimed victory, although no official figures had been released at that time. He thanked his supporters, who were gathered in the Philharmonic Hall in

Tbilisi Tbilisi ( ; ka, თბილისი ), in some languages still known by its pre-1936 name Tiflis ( ), is the Capital city, capital and the List of cities and towns in Georgia (country), largest city of Georgia (country), Georgia, lying on the ...

, and also thanked the voters. "The whole of Georgia has won," he said. "The primary tasks to be implemented from the first days of my presidency include introduction of a Prime Minister's post, appointment of a date for parliamentary elections and implementation of anti-corruption measures in the country," Saakashvili said.

Aftermath

Saakashvili was inaugurated as President in

on January 25.

References

{{Georgian elections Presidential elections in Georgia (country) Rose Revolution

Presidential election A presidential election is the election of any head of state whose official title is President. Elections by country Albania The president of Albania is elected by the Assembly of Albania who are elected by the Albanian public. Chile The pre ...