22 prospective candidates registered their intent to run in the January 5 presidential election by the Monday deadline, Central Elections Commission (CEC) chair Levan Tarkhnishvili confirmed.

While the race for the presidency has been lopsidedly underway since Mikheil Saakashvili announced the snap election after violent crackdowns on anti-government protestors November 7, the filing deadline and the weekend’s parliamentary approval of the election date marks the official start of campaigning for a crucial election just six weeks away.

Saakashvili stepped down as president over the weekend to clear the way for parliament to officially set January 5 as the date for the election.

In an interview aired on November 25, Saakashvili said that addressing social issues would be a priority if he is re-elected, indicating his campaign strategy will focus on poor Georgians who feel left behind by the country’s ambitious economic reforms.

“My aim is not only to keep my presidential post but to execute those tasks that I consider important for Georgia. Those are: rescuing Georgians from poverty, restoring Georgian territorial unity and integration into Europe,” he said.

In an address to the nation later the same day, acting president Nino Burjanadze called on all citizens to consider their vote carefully.

“Mistakes have been made, but I call on each citizen, before casting a ballot, to please think what has prevailed [since the Saakashvili administration assumed power]: success or failures and mistakes?”

The United National Council, a coalition of nine opposition parties, began their campaign by warning of the likelihood of vote-rigging.

Opposition MPs Kakha Kukava and Gia Tsagareishvili held a press briefing outside parliament after submitting the application of coalition candidate Levan Gachechiladze to the CEC.

“The real competitor that Gachechiladze faces in this election is a mechanism called ‘election falsification,’ and I’m sure this government will use it,” Kukava said.

Tsagareishvili announced that the opposition coalition would open ten campaign offices in Tbilisi and a further 50 in the provinces.

He also said that while the opposition coalition is preparing for a “just struggle,” they are expecting foul play from the government.

Opposition youth activists released an effigy of Saakashvili attached to helium balloons outside the State Chancellery, which they said symbolized their hope that the incumbent president does not gain a second term.

“We will continue to campaign like this until the election, and hopefully the nation will make the right decision,” one activist said.

Prominent business tycoon Badri Patarkatsishvili, New Rights party leader Davit Gamkrelidze, Georgia’s Way leader Gia Maisashvili and Labor Party leader Shalva Natelashvili were among other widely recognized names to submit applications.

Not all prospective candidates will necessarily see the race through however. Giorgi Gachechiladze of the Greens announced he will step out of the running if the country’s crowded field of opposition parties agree to put forward a single joint candidate.

“This would be a real guarantee of victory,” he said, “but unfortunately it has not been seen yet.”

Prospective candidates have until December 6 to present 50 000 signatures of support to the CEC.

“We will then check these signatures and if everything is correct a candidate will be officially registered by the CEC. If we find some inconsistencies, the would-be candidate will have three days to fix them,” a CEC representative said.

On December 12, the official presidential candidates are due to be named by the CEC.