DHAKA: Preliminary results in Georgia’s presidential election show the billionaire Prime Minister’s candidate winning with 62 percent of the vote.

Former university rector Giorgi Margvelashi’s victory in Sunday’s election consolidates the power of prime minister Bidzina Ivanishvili in this United States-aligned former Soviet republic.

The results posted by Georgia’s Central Election Commission on Monday, with more than 90 percent of precincts counted, are in line with exit polls, reports The Straits Times.

The candidate from outgoing president Mikhail Saakashvili’s party finished second with 22 percent, which is higher than expected.

BDST: 1347 HRS, OCT 28, 2013
RoR/BSK