Parliament Speaker lauds “effective” former PM after resignation

Shalva Papuashvili, the Georgian Parliament Speaker, on Tuesday said Irakli Garibashvili, who announced his resignation from the position of the Prime Minister on Monday, had demonstrated himself as an “effective” head of the executive power during his latest three-year-tenure.

Pointing to “unprecedented political and economic advancements” over the past several years, the official attributed the country’s obtaining of the European Union membership candidate status last month and domestic economic growth to Garibashvili’s efforts.

He also emphasised the significance of the ongoing year, underlining the imperative for the ruling Georgian Dream party to assert its strength in the upcoming parliamentary elections to secure “resounding results”, with Garibashvili now set to chair GD. 

These elections will reaffirm to the Georgian people the enduring support for peaceful, stable development over chaos", Papuashvili claimed. 

In his briefing on Monday, Garibashvili, who had his initial tenure in the post between 2013-2015, disclosed he had been offered the position of the GD Chair by the party’s Political Council, prompting a party congress set for Thursday. 

The session is also expected to nominate Irakli Kobakhidze, the current GD Chair, as the new PM.