Georgian ruling coalition announces presidential candidate

TBILISI, May 11 (Xinhua) -- Georgian Education Minister Giorgi Margvelashvili was nominated on Saturday as the presidential candidate of the ruling coalition Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia for the poll in October.

Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili announced the nomination of 43-year-old Margvelashvili.

The announcement was made after a 90-minute discussion among Georgian Dream leaders and then between the Georgian Dream leaders and Georgian parliamentary majority members.

"I want to thank Mr. Ivanishvili for praises and the team-coalition for the trust," said Margvelashvili. "It is a huge responsibility and honor. I would like to once more thank the team for the trust for supporting this position and I hope I will not disappoint these people and in future the hope of Georgian voters."

Georgia's main opposition party the United National Movement will announce its presidential candidate after its congress.

According to a U.S.-based National Democratic Institute public opinion survey, 58 percent of the respondents said that they would choose the candidate of the ruling coalition as the country's next president.

Eight percent of the respondents said that they would opt for the presidential candidate from the United National Movement, the former ruling party.

Georgian Dream came to power in general elections in October 2012 legislative polls.

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