Georgians vote in parliamentary elections

(Vatican Radio) Voting has begun in Georgia in parliamentary elections which will usher in a new political era
amid political and social tensions in the former Soviet republic. The party of the pro-western president faces a strong challenge following mounting criticism over his policies and a prison scandal.

Monday's elections are being held shortly after Georgians crowded the streets to express outrage over leaked videos showing prison guards beating and raping inmates. Though a minister responsible for prisons resigned, the revelations have hurt the campaign of Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili.

Opinion polls show the pro-Western president's United National Movement party facing a strong challenge from the Georgian Dream coalition led by billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, who made his fortune in Russia.

Ironically, the 56-year-old businessman-turned-politician also owns one of the television networks that aired the prison abuse.


SOCIAL TENSIONS

The scandal came on top of public criticism about poverty and an unemployment rate of over 16 percent.

President Saakashvili has defended his record saying he tackled "deep rooted corruption" and moved the country forward.

The ballot for 150 seats in parliament comes after Georgia changed the constitution to give the prime minister many of the powers now held by the president.

Parliament will name a new prime minister next year after Saakashvili's second and last presidential term ends.

RUSSIA RELATIONS

The West is closely monitoring the elections which are expected to impact Georgia's relations with Russia.

Under Saakhashvili, Georgia fought, and lost, a brief war with Russia in 2008, after which Moscow recognized
Georgian regions Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent countries and increased its military presence there.

Some 51,000 international monitors and other officials are observing the ballot in the former Soviet nation.

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