TBILISI — Mikheil Saakashvili rose to power after the 2003 “Rose Revolution" that ousted the old Communist elite but he may also be remembered for achieving the rare feat in an ex-Soviet state of acknowledging defeat in an election. In almost nine years in power, Saakashvili has been humiliated by military defeat, plagued by street protests and tarnished by crackdowns on the opposition but until now, he rarely seemed in danger of losing control of Georgia. While the defeat of his party in parliamentary polls to the bloc of billionaire tycoon Bidzina Ivanishvili does not spell the end of his presidency, it is a devastating blow to his political career. But Saakashvili, 44, surprised many of his critics by coming out well before the official count was over and gracefully conceding defeat to Ivanishvili after what had been a venomously personal election campaign. He said that although there were “deep differences" between his party and the opposition, “democracy works and the Georgian people take the decision and this is what we deeply respect". Saakashvili was just 36 when he led the bloodless uprising that ousted his predecessor, Eduard Shevardnadze. Georgian Dream was leading Saakashvili's United National Movement by 53.11 to 41.57 percent after 29 percent of electoral precincts declared results in the proportional ballot that will decide just over half of the parliamentary seats. First-past-the-post votes in 73 constituencies will make up the remainder of the 150-seat parliament and the opposition was ahead in partial counts from seven out of 10 such constituencies in its stronghold Tbilisi. Saakashvili's campaign was undermined by a prison torture scandal that prompted nationwide protests ahead of the vote in the Western-backed ex-Soviet state and raised fears of more serious post-poll unrest. OSCE election observers described the polls as an “important step in consolidating the conduct of democratic elections." “Despite a very polarizing campaign that included harsh rhetoric and shortcomings, the Georgian people have freely expressed their will at the ballot box," said Tonino Picula, the head of the OSCE international observer mission. Ivanishvili had declared victory immediately after several exit polls suggested late Monday that his coalition was ahead and his supporters celebrated long into the night in Tbilisi's central Freedom Square. — Agencies
