Azernews.Az

By Nazrin Gadimova

Georgia's Central Election Commission has registered the first seven candidates for presidency. According to the CEC, different initiative groups and parties have submitted applications to run for the presidential elections to be held on October 27, 2013.

These seven candidates are Mikheil Saluashvili, Tariel Khvedelidze, Nestan Kirtadze, Giorgi Gakhokiya, Shalva Natelashvili, Mamuka Chokhonelidze and Nikoloz Gorgijanidze.

Relevant documents from the leader of the Democratic Movement Nino Burjanadze and the candidate of the ruling coalition Giorgi Margvelashvili have not yet been received.

Also, Christian-Democratic Movement leader Giorgi Tarmagadze, another presidential candidate, was introduced in Tbilisi on July 12.

President Mikhail Saakashvili's United National Movement is in the process of selecting its presidential candidate through internal party elections, which will be held in six stages involving conferences and debates between primary candidates; after the first conference former parliament speaker Davit Bakradze is leading in the primaries.

The non-parliamentary opposition is believed to nominate opera singer Paata Burchuladze. Also, former Foreign Minister Salome Zourabichvili is expected to join the presidential race.

The presidential candidates will have to submit 26,000 signatures of their supporters by September 17, 2013.

The 2013 election in Georgia will be the 6th presidential election after the country's declaration of independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. The last one, held on January 5, 2008, resulted in the election of Mikheil Saakashvili for his second and final presidential term.

According to the Constitution, Saakashvili cannot run for a third consecutive term.

Upon the inauguration of a new president in 2013, a series of constitutional amendments passed in the parliament of Georgia from 2010 to 2013 will go into effect. The amendments envisage significant reduction of the President's powers in favor of the Prime Minister.

Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, who is the founder of the ruling Georgian Dream coalition, earlier said in an interview with Estonian newspaper Postimees that he intends to leave politics a few days after Saakashvili steps down and new presidential elections are held.