Ruling Party Sec-Gen pledges commitment to “national interests” amid new PM nomination

Kakha Kaladze, the Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream party and the Mayor of Tbilisi, on Thursday pledged “unwavering commitment” to “national interests” following the resignation of Irakli Garibashvili as the country’s Prime Minister on Monday and the forthcoming nomination of his replacement by the party.

In his press comments, the official stressed changes had “always been a part” of GD dynamic, and extended messages of support to Irakli Kobakhidze, the current Chair of GD who is expected to be nominated as a new PM after the party congress later on Thursday.

[R]egardless of our roles - whether in politics, business, or as ordinary citizens - we must always prioritise serving our homeland and people, without being swayed by the interests of any other nation”, Kaladze said in his comments.

He also said both Kobakhidze and Garibashvili, who announced his new role as the GD Chair, enjoyed support of the party.

Georgian Dream stands united. We are poised to secure victory in this year’s parliamentary elections with the backing of the Georgian people. I firmly believe the only political force capable of achieving a constitutional majority [at least 113 seats in the 150-member Parliament] and assuming power is the Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia party”, Kaladze claimed. 

He also expressed scepticism about the opposition's constructive engagement in ongoing processes, noting “while constructive criticism is welcome when warranted, the radicalism displayed by certain politicians and political parties is primarily detrimental to their own interests, as evidenced by numerous examples”.