Georgia's election commission announced on Thursday that former Foreign Minister Salome Zorabashvili had won Georgia's presidential election to become the first woman to hold the post.
With 99 percent of constituencies counted, Salome Zorabashvili won about 60 percent of the vote, while her rival Grigol Vashadze won just over 40 percent in Wednesday's election.
Zorabishvili fought the elections independently, but was backed by the ruling Georgian Dream Party, while a coalition of opposition forces backed its rival Vashadzah.
Georgia, home to about 4 million people in the volatile Caucasus region of southern Russia, is becoming a parliamentary republic.
Presidential powers are set to shrink in favor of the prime minister, who will become the most influential figure in the country.
After the expiration of the six-year presidential term, the head of state will be chosen through parliamentarians, not by direct vote.
