Georgia President Mikheil Saakashvili admits election loss

Under agreed reforms, the parliament and prime minister will acquire greater powers than the president after that election.

With results in from 72% of polling stations, Georgian Dream led the party list vote, which accounts for 77 of the 150 seats, with 54% of the vote. The president’s United National Movement was on 41%.

The rest of the seats are made up of 73 constituencies elected by a first-past-the-post vote.

President Saakashvili said it was clear that Georgian Dream had won a majority.

Earlier Mr Ivanishvili, Georgia’s richest man, had already declared victory.

In his TV address, Mr Saakashvili said he would respect the Georgian people’s decision, and his party would become “an opposition force”.

“It’s clear from the preliminary results that the opposition has the lead and it should form the government – and I as president should help them with this.”

The US congratulated Georgians on the “historic milestone” of their parliamentary election and praised the president’s response to the result.

In a later news briefing, Mr Ivanishvili called on Mr Saakashvili to admit he would not be able to retain power, to resign and call a snap presidential election.