TBILISI — Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said on Saturday that the ruling Georgian Dream–Democratic Georgia party is winning local elections across all municipalities with more than 70 percent of the vote.

“At our election headquarters, data shows that Georgian Dream is leading in both mayoral and city council elections in every municipality, including Tbilisi and other major cities,” Kobakhidze told a press briefing.

He thanked voters for their support and pledged that his government would “justify this trust through hard work.”

Voters headed to the polls to elect mayors for Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Batumi, Rustavi, and Poti, as well as representatives for 59 municipalities and 64 city councils.

Twelve political parties are competing, with nine candidates running for Tbilisi mayor. The ruling party nominated incumbent Kakha Kaladze, while opposition groups Strong Georgia–Lelo and Gakharia for Georgia backed former lawmaker Irakli Kupradze.

More than 3.5 million citizens were registered to vote at 3,061 polling stations across the country, most of which used electronic ballot boxes. — Agencies