Ruling party congress elects outgoing PM as new Chair, nominates replacement

A session of the Congress of the ruling Georgian Dream party on Thursday elected Irakli Garibashvili, the country’s Prime Minister who announced his resignation on Monday, as the party’s new Chair, while nominating incumbent GD Char Irakli Kobakhidze as his replacement. 

Addressing the 8th Congress of the party in Tbilisi, Garibashvili stressed Kobakhidze, who previously served as the Speaker of the Parliament, had been given “full legitimacy and mandate” by the Congress for his new role and urged attendees to support him. 

He also extended his gratitude to Bidzina Ivanishvili, the GD founder and former PM who currently serves as the Honorary Chair of the party, and party members, highlighting being elected for his new position was a “great honour and responsibility”.

In his comments, Kobakhidze praised Garibashvili for “ensuring great success” for the country during his latest, three-year tenure, while also expressing gratitude to Ivanishvili for placing trust in him. 

Kobakhidze is expected to present his cabinet in the coming days, with the Parliament scheduled to vote on the composition next week. 

The official has already rejected the opposition’s claims on alleged replacement of several ministers, claiming only Defence Minister Juansher Burchuladze was expected to resign on his own initiative, with MP Irakli Chikovani nominated for the post.