Georgia has elected ruling party candidate Salome Zurabishvili as its first woman president, final results showed Thursday, but the opposition claimed fraud. The election was seen as a test of Georgia’s democratic credentials as the Caucasus nation seeks European Union and NATO membership. But Zurabishvili quickly made enemies among the parliamentary majority, with MPs and some senior diplomats accusing her of arrogance and impulsiveness. The vote was Georgia’s last direct leadership poll as it transitions to a parliamentary form of governance. The first round on October 28 saw Zurabishvili take 39 percent of the vote, against 38 percent for Vashadze.

Source: Egypt Independent November 29, 2018 09:33 UTC