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The other candidates received less than 1% each. They were former presidential envoy to the Imereti region Temur Shashiashvili, leader of the Lawyers of Georgia party Kartlos Garibashvili, one of the leaders of the political organization Mdzleveli, Zurab Kelekhsashvili, the President of the Coalition of Non-Government Organisations of the Disabled Zaza Sikharulidze, and leader of the David Agmashenebeli Party Roin Liparteliani.
Early on January 5 Saakashvili claimed victory, although no official figures had been released at that time. He thanked his supporters, who were gathered in the Philharmonic Hall in Tbilisi, and also thanked the voters. "The whole of Georgia has won," he said.
"The primary tasks to be implemented from the first days of my presidency include introduction of a Prime Minister's post, appointment of a date for parliamentary elections and implementation of anti-corruption measures in the country," Saakashvili said.
Saakashvili was inaugurated as President in Tblisi on January 25, 2004.
National summary of votes
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Registered voters 2,129,825
Valid votes cast: 1,762,972 82.8
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Candidate Party Votes %
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Roin Liparteliani 4,248 00.2
Kartlos Garibashvili 3,582 00.2
Zurab Kelekhsashvili 1,631 00.1
Teimuraz Shashiashvili 33,868 01.9
Mikheil SAAKASHVILI UNM 1,692,728 96.0
Zaza Sikharulidze 4,098 00.2
Against all 22,817 01.3
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Total 1,762,972
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Georgian law requires a 50% turnout for elections to be valid. The Chairman of the Georgian Central Election Commission, Zurab Tchiaberashvili, said that since about 1,763,000 voters had participated - over 80% of those eligible to vote - "according to the preliminary information, the elections are valid."