Barometer 2007 [Georgia]

The survey was carried out from 1-10 December 2007 on 1,100 respondents (44.0% male and 56.0% female in all nine regions of Georgia, the autonomous republic of Ajaria ,and the capital Tbilisi. The sample was stratified and random, so as to be proportional to the number of population in regions, in urban and rural settlements, and to gender and age groups.

The survey instrument consisted of 152 questions, which referred to economics, governance, politics, elections and values. Interviews were made face to face, the step size was 4, confidence level 95%, and standard error 3%.

For the first time, throughout its long experience of conducting surveys, the institute encountered difficulties in obtaining consent for participation. The readiness of participants to express their attitudes to the problems facing was low, as was their inclination to estimate the effectiveness of governance. The reluctance to evaluate politicians was especially high. This explains a number of "Difficult to say" options chosen in answer to politically sensitive issues.

This publication analyses only the answers to the questions pertaining to elections. The results are discussed from the viewpoint of electoral groups: supporters of President Mikheil Saakashvili, supporters of all other six candidates for presidency, and of those who did not express their choice.

Background

The situation, preceding the underaking of the survey, is unique due to several reasons:
• For the first time during the country’s statehood, the population faces a real choice: the name of the winner in elections is not clear;
• The elections have been preceded by mass protest rallies, a crackdown on them by force, the closure of independent TV channels Imedi and Caucasia, a declaration of emergency rule and subsequently its removal.
• The elections are unplanned, and are being carried out within a short period after their announcement, so that the candidates did not have enough time to formulate their programmes, plan the election campaign and mobilise their resources.
• The survey was carried out 35-45 days before the elections. The Central Electorate Committee registered seven candidates. These include ex-President Saakashvili, who stepped down in order to take part in elections, and Levan Gachechiladze, nominated by United Opposition. Four other party candidates (David Gamkrelidze, Shalva Natelashvili, Giorgi Maisashvili and Irine Sarishvili), and an independent candidate Badri Patarkatsishvili, are not competing with each other but are rather united against Saakashvili.