Ruling party officially nominates Giorgi Gakharia for premiership
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The ruling Georgian Dream party has officially nominated Giorgi Gakharia for premiership.
Gakharia has one week to present his cabinet. However, the presentation in parliament may take place earlier.
The parliament which is composed of 150 MPs must then vote on Gakharia and the new cabinet.
At least 76 votes are needed to approve the PM and the cabinet.
The ruling party has 90 MPs in the legislative body.
Opposition MPs still refuse to take up their mandates.
Gakharia was appointed PM in September 2019.
Before that, he held the post of interior minister.
The 10th convocation of the parliament of Georgia is holding its first session today following the October 31 parliamentary elections and the second round of elections on November 21. No opposition MPs from the eight parties and election blocs that were voted into parliament are attending the session. Five of eight opposition parties and blocs have signed a memorandum earlier today in which they do not recognise the election results, and demand the conduct of repeat elections and refuse to take up their mandates.
The fifth round of election talks mediated by foreign ambassadors between the ruling Georgian Dream party and eight opposition parties and blocs has been postponed.
With 98 votes in favour and zero against, the parliament of Georgia has approved of the new cabinet under Giorgi Gakharia’s premiership. The Georgian Dream ruling party nominated Giorgi Gakharia to take up the premiership, following Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze's resignation on September 2.
The Georgian Dream ruling party has nominated Interior Minister Giorgi Gakharia for the premiership earlier today which has been followed by harsh criticism of the opposition and demonstrators who have been protesting the rally dispersal on Rustaveli Avenue on June 20-21 for 76 days.
The ruling Georgian Dream party nominee for the country’s premiership Giorgi Gakharia has presented his cabinet to parliament to be voted on, as well as a government programme - ‘Building of a European State.’ 10 of the 11 candidates in the cabinet remain unchanged, while former deputy Justice Minister Gocha Lortkipanidze was nominated to take over as justice minister.
International leaders have congratulated Giorgi Gakharia on his reappointment as Georgian Prime Minister. Gakharia has received letters of congratulation from Ukrainian, Slovak, German, Estonian, Italian and Azerbaijani leaders.