The seventh presidential elections were held on October 28, 2018. A second round involving Salome Zurabishvili and Grigol Vashadze will be held on 28 November 2018 because no candidate was able to secure at least 50% of the vote in the first round.

Eurasia Diary asked about the presidential elections of Georgia from Georgian political expert Ivane Chkhikvadze.

Do you consider that presidential elections will shape the future of Georgia?

- I guess to some extent it would have an influence on Georgia's future and it would also have some repercussion on the general elections scheduled in 2020.

How can you differentiate the political platform of UNM and Georgian Dream?

- When it comes to the foreign policy at the declarative level both political forces are for Georgia's EU and NATO integration which reflects the population's will.

What if UNM win and Saakashvili back. Would it be possible and what do you expect about the political situation in Georgia in that situation?

- I could not exclude that since Saakashvili is linked with the UNM. I assume that there might be some political hiccups in Georgia if this scenario gets materialized.

How elections will affect Georgia's relations with EU and Russia?

- I believe that there will not be any big changes in this regard since Georgia already has an Association Agreement and pursues it. Hence I mean that Georgia will continue implementing AA and I doubt any leader will ever dare to cut the ties with the EU. As for Russia, a lot depends on how the investigation at the Court in the Hague will go.

Ulvi Ahmedli