PM nominates new Ministers of Environment and Sport

After a major reshuffle in the Georgian Government recently, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili this morning introduced three new Minister nominees, including Minister of Defence, Minister of Environment and Minister of Sport.

Garibashvili named Gigla Agulashvili as his nominee for Minister of Environment and Natural Resources Protection of Georgia and Tariel Khechikashvili as Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs of Georgia.

Garibashvili explained Agulashvili had a lot of experience working in Parliament of Georgia. He was an MP for the Georgian Dream Coalition and represented the Republican party.

While introducing the new Minister of Environment, today Garibashvili said Agulashvili was "a good manager" who had carried out a number of important activities in the environment protection direction.

"Agulashvili is a lawyer by profession. Until today he was the chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture. During his work in Parliament he has gained extensive experience in working with environmental organisations. I hope Agulashvili’s activities will be fruitful and successful,” Garibashvili said.

As for the PM's nominee for the post of Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs, Khechikashvili was also a qualified lawyer. Before now he was president of the Iberia Business Group - one of the largest automobile holdings in Georgia.

"The great part of his biography is that he is linked to sport. He is a strong manager and a member of the Government's Georgian Football Development Commission. At the same time he is a father of seven children."

Garibashvili said the recent changes in Cabinet had been made in order to increase the Government’s effectiveness.

Now, the PM's nominated ministers must be presented to Parliament by the country's President within seven days.

Today Garibashvili addressed Georgia’s President Giorgi Margvelashvili to approve the revised Government today. However, Margvelashvili said he would wait one week before making a decision, as he is entitled to under the Constitution.

Looking ahead, once the President approves the revised Cabinet to Parliament, lawmakers will have seven days to give a vote of confidence to the new Cabinet. 

The current situation became evident following the dismissal of seven Ministers in the past nine months. 

A new rule added to the Georgian Constitutuon noted if more than a third (six ministers) of Cabinet are changed, the proposed Cabinet must be approved by Parliament.

This new norm was added to the Georgian Constitution after the Government changed in 2012.

Currently, Georgia’s Cabinet consists of 20 members, which means the Prime Minister can change six Ministers without asking Parliament but as soon as the seventh Minister was changed, Cabinet was regarded as disbanded. In the past the Prime Minister could change as many Cabinet Members as he wanted without Parliament's approval.