Hobrazia awaits elections
In the wake of Prime Minister Orbeliani's resignation, and President Georgi Pavishvili's delining to run for a fifth term in office in favour of his son Lukas, Hobrazia prepares for the 3551 elections. Political analysts are predicting a close race between the incumbent right-wing HDK and the Communist Party, which has awoken from its slumber and staged a much more vigorous and active presence in the National Chamber than previously. Whether the startling decision by the HDK to let the President's son run to succeed him will affect the final results is unclear; on the one hand, it might disconcern some voters concerned that the HDK is run by a "clan", on the other, Pavishvili is a popular name and is an experienced cabinet Minister in his own right. Rumours that Orbeliani was ousted by inner-party grandees for her poor showing when her Defence Minister resigned over budget cuts, rather than went freely, might have an impact too.
The manifestos of the opposing parties are miles apart: The Communists have a predictably collectivist focus, while the HDK is sticking to its guns, supporting market reform and low taxes.