Georgia’s former PM, ruling Georgian Dream founder, Bidzina Ivanishvili returns to politics

Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Tuesday claimed Bidzina Ivanishvili, the former Prime Minister and the founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party, had replaced a “bloody”, “anti-Western”, “anti-European regime” in Georgia led by the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili and the United National Movement party. 

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Friday highlighted financial investment by Bidzina Ivanishvili, the former Prime Minister and founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party, into the country’s western region of Adjara, in comments at the Parliament.

Mamuka Mdinaradze, the executive secretary of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Monday said there was “no evidence” that the former prime minister and founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party Bidzina Ivanishvili influenced domestic political processes or interfered “in any way”.

"I have made the decision to finally retire from politics and fully distance myself from the reins of power. I am leaving the post of party chairman, as well as the party itself and am returning to my pre-2011, private lifestyle. I will turn 65 years old in just a few weeks, and this is one of the important factors in making the decision to retire from politics,” Ivanishvili said, adding that the step ‘which is dictated by the desire to advance young people to the forefront...will not only not weaken, but will, in fact, further strengthen the ruling party.’

Former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili is going to become the chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream party again. Prime Minister of Georgia, Giorgi Kvirikashvili announced changes in the ruling party management today at the briefing.

He said, Bidzina Ivanishvili’s decision will have a positive influence on the country’s political life and will serve as a new stimulus for the party.

Bidzina Ivanishvili, the former Prime Minister and founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party, who was earlier today elected the honorary Chair of the GD party, said the ruling party had the opportunity to “fully protect” Georgia’s national identity, restore the state sovereignty and territorial integrity, put Georgia in the ranks of high-income countries by 2030, and join the European Union.

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Saturday said the “main goal, mission and dream” of Bidzina Ivanishvili, the former PM and founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party, before and after coming into politics, were the unification of the country.

The representatives of the ruling Georgian Dream party on Saturday highlighted the importance of the return of Bidzina Ivanishvili, the former Prime Minister and founder of the GD party, to politics, who earlier today was elected the honorary Chair of the party.

Mamuka Mdinaradze, the Executive Secretary of the ruling party, on Saturday said the Georgian Government would fulfil its duty to ensure and guarantee the well-being of its citizens, de-occupation of the country, reconciliation, maintaining peace and developing Georgia, “more successfully” together with Bidzina Ivanishvili, the former Prime Minister and founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party, who was elected the honorary Chair of the GD party earlier that day.

Anne Toft Sørensen, the Danish Ambassador to Georgia, was on Thursday summoned to the country’s foreign office after mentioning Bidzina Ivanishvili, the former PM and the founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party, as “oligarch” in an article published in the Danish media.

Georgia’s foreign office on Thursday said Anne Toft Sørensen, the Danish Ambassador to the country, had explained that her article, in which the latter mentioned Bidzina Ivanishvili, the former PM and the founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party, as an “oligarch”, intended to express her country’s support for Georgia’s European integration and stressed “it is unfortunate that opponents used it in a negative context”.

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Friday said it was “sad and regrettable” that “incompetence of diplomats” was “damaging” the image of the countries they represented among the Georgian public, after comments by Anne Toft Sørensen, the Danish Ambassador, about Bidzina Ivanishvili, the former Prime Minister and the founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party, in media caused controversy earlier during the week.

Shalva Papuashvili, the Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, on Thursday claimed the decision of Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party and the former Prime Minister, in December to return to politics as the party’s Honorary Chair had caused “distress” among domestic opposition. 

Irakli Kobakhidze, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Wednesday said the “direct” involvement of Bidzina Ivanishvili - the former Prime Minister and founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party - in politics could bring “positive processes” to the country “in many ways”.

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili and Defence Minister Irakli Chikovani on Thursday criticised what they described as a "radical agenda" of the Lelo opposition party, alleging the campaign aimed to target Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party who recently returned to domestic politics as the party’s Honorary Chair.

Irakli Garibashvili, the new Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party and the former Prime Minister of Georgia, on Thursday said his party’s goal was to secure a constitutional majority in the October general elections, while also condemning “anti-state” and “criminal activities” of President Salome Zourabichvili and the founder of the Lelo opposition party Mamuka Khazaradze.