Parliament Speaker: “historic” moment for Georgian democracy with possible selection of Georgian Dream party Chair as new PM

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Wednesday said if the ruling Georgian Dream party Chair Irakli Kobakhidze became the new Prime Minister following the exit of Irakli Garibashvili from the position this week, the development would mark a “historic moment for Georgian democracy” by symbolising the country's switch to the parliamentary republic model in having a PM selected from the lawmaking body.

Papuashvili confirmed Kobakhidze was the only candidate the ruling party was discussing for the position. 

If Irakli Kobakhidze becomes the Prime Minister, it will also be a historic moment. No other candidacy is being considered. It is a historic moment for Georgian democracy, because for the first time since Georgia moved to a parliamentary republic governance, the Prime Minister will actually come from the Parliamentary fold, and in principle this is the real idea and goal of parliamentary democracies”, he noted. 

The Speaker also credited the outgoing head of the Government by saying Georgia had been “able to overcome many challenges” during Garibashvili’s time at the helm. 

In an environment full of challenges that surrounds us in terms of security, wars, conflicts [...] and the final stage of the [Covid-19] pandemic [...], Georgia was able to have historical, political achievements under his leadership”, Papuashvili said.

Garibashvili on Monday noted he had received an offer from the Political Council of the ruling Georgian Dream party to take the position of the party Chair, with the party’s congress to be held on Thursday.