Georgia, Tbilisi / Trend corr. N.Kirtskhalia / The presidential candidate Michael Saakashvili is leading at the special presidential election held on 5 January, under the preliminary calculation of votes by the Central Election Committee (CEC). According to CEC, Saakashvili collected 51.51% (774,589 votes). The followings are the candidate from the united opposition Levan Gachechiladze 25.38 % (381,714 votes), leader of the New rights party David Gamkrelidze - 3.92 % (59,016 votes), businessman Arkadi (Badri) Patarkatsishvili - 6.58 % (98,882 votes), head of the Labour party Shalva Natelashvili - 6.45 % (97,046 votes), leader of the Future party Giorgi Maisashvili 0.78 % (11,795 votes) and leader of Nadejda (Hope) party Irina Sarishvili-Chanturia 0.2 % (5,080 votes).
The special presidential election in Georgia was held on 5 January in 2008. According to preliminary data, 1,912, 943 people or 56.17% took part at the election.
Under the Georgian Constitution President is elected to the post if he collects 50% of votes at the first round.