Georgian ruling party chair, ex-PM Garibashvili announces departure from politics

Irakli Garibashvili, Chairman of Georgia’s ruling party Georgian Dream, has announced his departure from both the party and political life.

Speaking at a press briefing at the party’s headquarters in Tbilisi on Friday, Garibashvili said he had made a personal decision to leave politics, ending weeks of speculation over his future.

“Today I would like to inform you of my decision to leave politics,” he said. “Until now, each step I have taken in my political life has been based on a specific goal – to serve our country and people and strengthen our state.”

Garibashvili, a close ally of Georgian Dream founder and honorary chair Bidzina Ivanishvili, has been a central figure in Georgian politics for more than a decade. He joined the party upon its establishment in 2012 and has twice served as Prime Minister.

He was first appointed Prime Minister in 2013, shortly after serving as Minister of Internal Affairs, and held the post until his resignation in 2015. After a return to government as Minister of Defence from 2019 to 2021, he was reappointed Prime Minister in 2021, a position he held until stepping down in January 2024. Days later, he was elected chairman of Georgian Dream.