Ivanishvili claims Garibashvili “himself decided” to quit

Bidzina Ivanishvili, the honorary chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, who in December announced his third comeback to domestic politics and initially stated that Irakli Garibashvili would remain as the PM, now claims that Garibashvili “himself decided to resign.”

“See what kind of man he is. He wanted it himself; I did not push for it,” Ivanishvili said ahead of the GD meeting. During the meeting, Irakli Kobakhidze, the current GD chair, will be nominated as the country’s new PM, while Garibashvili will replace him as the party leader ahead of this year’s parliamentary elections.

Ivanishvili, often referred to as a “shadow ruler” by the opposition, founded the Georgian Dream coalition and, in the 2012 parliamentary elections, defeated the United National Movement after nine years in office.

Despite pledging not to re-engage in politics, Ivanishvili has returned for the third time, citing various reasons.