Georgia’s ruling party to elect new chair at May congress

Georgia’s ruling party, Georgian Dream, will elect a new chairman during a party congress scheduled for 7 May, the party’s political council announced on Wednesday.

A session of the council was held at the party’s Tbilisi office, where members approved the date of the congress and confirmed that the leadership reshuffle will include a renewal of the political council itself.

“The congress of the political union Georgian Dream will be held on May 7, where a new chairman of the party will be elected,” the party said in an official statement. “The session also approved that the composition of the political council will be renewed, which will be approved at the congress.”

The announcement follows the resignation of Irakli Garibashvili, the former prime minister, who stepped down as party chairman and exited politics last week.

“I would like to inform you of my decision to leave politics,” Garibashvili said at an April 25 press briefing. “For the past few weeks, speculations regarding my political activities have not stopped, therefore, I consider myself obliged to the public to give a comprehensive answer to the questions.”

Garibashvili claimed he planned to continue serving the country from a different role, later confirming that he would pursue opportunities in the private sector.