PM Garibashvili poised to step down – media
Author
Front News Georgia
Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Garibashvili, is poised to step down from his position, Imedi TV reported on Monday. The announcement comes ahead of a scheduled party congress on February 1, where notable transitions are expected within the ruling party’s hierarchy, the media outlet claimed.
According to sources cited by the channel, the acting chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream party, Irakli Kobakhidze, is likely to be put forward as the nominee for the prime ministerial role, while Garibashvili is anticipated to ascend to the position of party chairman.
This revelation of impending leadership changes was disclosed by Nika Gvaramia, a former director of the opposition-minded Mtavari TV channel, on Sunday. When approached for comment regarding the speculated prime ministerial change, Speaker of Parliament Shalva Papuashvili, refrained from confirming, stating that such speculations had arisen previously, and refrained from further comment.
The Mtavari channel reports also indicated a broader restructuring within the government, with several ministers expected to vacate their positions. Notable among them are Minister of Culture and Sports Thea Tsulukiani, Minister of Justice Rati Bregadze, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ilia Darchiashvili, Minister of Defence Juansher Burchuladze, and Minister of Health Zurab Azarashvili.
Garibashvili, who assumed the role of Prime Minister for the second term on February 22, 2021, initially entered politics in 2012 with the GD party. After serving as the Minister of Internal Affairs for a year, he succeeded Bidzina Ivanishvili, the party founder, as Prime Minister in 2013, holding the position until the end of 2015, when he announced his resignation. Garibashvili later returned to government during Giorgi Gakharia’s tenure as prime minister.
Kobakhidze, former chairman of the Parliament, assumed the leadership of GD in 2021. His decision to resign in June 2021 followed public outcry over his handling of a parliamentary session involving Russian MPs. .
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