Partial recount in Georgia election confirms ruling party win amid fraud allegations

A partial ballot recount in Georgia’s contested parliamentary election confirmed the ruling party won, electoral officials said on Thursday, after opposition parties alleged violations and Washington and Brussels demanded an investigation.

Georgia plunged into political uncertainty following Saturday’s election, as the pro-Western opposition said the vote was “stolen” by the ruling Georgian Dream party and refused to recognise its results.

Pro-European President Salome Zurabishvili – at loggerheads with the governing party – has declared the election results “illegitimate”, alleging election interference by a “Russian special operation”.

The central election commission said that the recount at some 12 per cent of polling stations, involving 14 per cent of the vote, “didn’t lead to a significant change to previously announced official results”.

“Final tallies only slightly changed at some nine per cent of recounted polling stations,” a spokeswoman said.

Tens of thousands took to the streets on Monday to protest against alleged fraud.