BREAKING: Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili resigns
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Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has resigned.
Garibashvili made the announcement about his surprise resignation at 8pm this evening.
He addressed the nation from the Government Administration's building and said his Government had created a "firm foundation for economic and social well-being" in the country.
He named several top achievements of his team that included signing the Association Agreement with the European Union and involving Georgia in the new Silk Road project.
After this he said:
Posts are temporary. The only thing permanent is God and the homeland.
So I have decided today to leave my post."
In Garibashvili's six-minute video address he said the country was now strong and had a "European perspective".
He also mentioned Georgia's previous Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili and the fact he left politics when he was in the "zenith" of his career. By Ivanishvili stepping down, he created an example of "coming into power on time and stepping down on time", said Garibashvili.
For me this post has never been the goal; it was only a means to serve my country."
We are still a young democracy so it is very important what example we give our children."
My dream is, was and will always be strong Georgia."
Earlier today Tbilisi-based radio station Pirveli Radio speculated Prime Minister Garibashvili would resign this afternoon, citing information from an unidentified source.
At 3.30pm the press office of the Administration of the Government of Georgia released a statement that said Prime Minister Garibashvili would hold a special press briefing at 6pm.
The Administration did not specify the topic of the press briefing.
Garibashvili, 33, has held the post of Prime Minister for slightly more than two years, since November 20, 2013. Before that he served as the country’s Minister of Internal Affairs.
During his early career he was involved in the business and financial sector. Garibashvili majored in International Relations at Tbilisi State University before studying Political Sciences at Sorbonne University in France.
More details about legal procedures following the PM’s resignation coming soon.
UPDATED: The press office of the Administration of the Government of Georgia has postponed the time of the Prime Minister's special statement tonight to 8pm (Tbilisi local time).
Highlights of his term in power
Signing an Association Agreement (AA) with the European Union (EU) – one step closer to EU membership - was the country’s top achievement during Irakli Garibashvili’s term as the country’s Prime Minister.
Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili announced his resignation tonight at a special briefing in the Georgian Government’s Administration building at 8pm (Tbilisi local time). Below is a live Twitter feed displaying the discussion of this news by Twitter users all over the globe.
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