New government structures reflect crisis within ruling party, UNM

Irakli Pavlenishvili, deputy secretary general of Georgia's opposition United National Movement (UNM), has said the creation of new government structures pointed to a deep internal crisis and factional infighting within the ruling Georgian Dream party.

Under a government restructuring announced on Wednesday, Mamuka Mdinaradze is set to become State Minister for Regional Policy, replacing his current role as State Minister for Coordination of Law Enforcement Bodies. The changes, which also envisage abolishing the Ministry of Regional Development, require parliamentary approval. 

Pavlenishvili argued that establishing a new institution for the second time in two months “for a single individual” could not be interpreted as a sign of stable governance.

"You cannot say everything is going well when, for one person, a new structure and a new institution are being created for the second time in two months," he said.

He also criticised the frequent replacement of the head of the State Security Service, saying the position had changed hands every six months instead of every six years.

According to Pavlenishvili, the developments indicate "a deep crisis" and "clan infighting" within what he described as Bidzina Ivanishvili's ruling system.