Chkhorotsku becomes 1st municipality to have opposition City Assembly head

Chkhorotsku in western Samegrelo region of Georgia has become the first municipality across the country which has elected an opposition member as a new head of its city assembly. 

 

Shota Tsurtsumia from the For Georgia opposition party founded by former PM Giorgi Gakharia took the post. 

 

15 opposition members participated in the vote and Tsurtsumia received 14 votes, enough to take the seat. 

 

In the 27-member city assembly, the ruling Georgian Dream has 12 majoritarian deputies, the United National Movement opposition party – 7, For Georgia also seven and Lelo just one member. 

 

The ruling party did not nominate a candidate for the head of Chkhorotsku city assembly. 

 

Gakharia founded the party in May 2021 after he quit the premiership and the party in February of this year, following controversies with the ruling party leadership.