Georgian Dream unveils Kakha Kaladze as Tbilisi mayoral candidate

Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party and Prime Minister of Georgia, on Thursday officially kicked off the party's election campaign, announcing Kakha Kaladze, the incumbent Mayor, as their candidate for Tbilisi Mayor.

Speaking at the campaign launch event in Tbilisi, Kobakhidze noted that the Georgian Dream was nominating a “true champion” for the mayoral race, someone who has brought “highest-ranking victories to Georgia”.

“On behalf of the Georgian Dream team, I have the honour to present a person as the candidate for Mayor of the capital of Georgia - or rather, the future Mayor - who any European capital would wish for as their mayor. This is a distinguished leader of our team, Tbilisi's most successful Mayor of all time Kakha Kaladze”, the PM said.

The event was attended by Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder and Honorary Chair of the Georgian Dream party.

Kaladze thanked the political team and Ivanishvili for the trust shown in him.

“Being nominated for Tbilisi Mayor for the third time in a row is a tremendous responsibility. For me, it is another great opportunity to serve our beautiful Tbilisi and its residents. I want to thank our political team for the trust they have placed in me. I would like to personally express my special gratitude to Mr. Bidzina Ivanishvili, with whom I have been fighting and defending national interests since 2011”, Kaladze said.