PM candidate formally presents Gov’t composition to Parliament
The only change in the cabinet concerns the position of the Minister of Defence, where Juansher Burchuladze would be replaced by Irakli Chikovani, an MP from the ruling Georgian Dream party. Photo: Georgian Dream Press Office
Tweet 
Share
Irakli Kobakhidze, the candidate for the position of the Prime Minister of Georgia, on Friday presented his Government composition to the Parliament bureau.
The only change in the cabinet concerns the position of the Minister of Defence, where Juansher Burchuladze would be replaced by Irakli Chikovani, an MP from the ruling Georgian Dream party.
The full composition of the Government is as follows:
- Minister of Culture and Sports - Tea Tsulukiani
- Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development - Levan Davitashvili
- Minister of Foreign Affairs - Ilia Darchiashvili
- Minister of Finance - Lasha Khutsishvili
- Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure - Irakli Karseladze
- Minister of Justice - Rati Bregadze
- Minister of Internal Affairs - Vakhtang Gomelauri
- Minister of Defence - Irakli Chikovani
- Minister of Environment Protection and Agriculture - Otar Shamugia
- Minister of Education, Science and Youth - Giorgi Amilakhvari
- Minister of IDPs from Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Protection - Zurab Azarashvili
- State Minister for Reconciliation and Civil Equality - Tea Akhvlediani
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 Kobakhidze as his replacement.
Pawel Herczynski, the European Union Ambassador to Georgia, on Friday commended “very promising” initial statements by Irakli Kobakhidze, the candidate presented by the ruling Georgian Dream party for the position of the Prime Minister, as part of his commitment to advancing the country’s EU integration progress through implementation of the conditions for opening accession talks with the bloc.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the candidate for the position of the Prime Minister of Georgia, will on Friday present his Government programme to the Parliament bureau.
Mamuka Mdinaradze, the Executive Secretary of the ruling Georgian Dream party and the head of the faction in the Parliament, on Thursday said the party would look to gain a constitutional majority and not just a “simple victory” in the general elections in October.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the candidate for the position of the Prime Minister of Georgia, on Thursday said the Government’s “well-defined” plan for ensuring the country’s European Union integration involved fulfilment of the nine priorities set out by the European Commission in November for the purpose.
The Georgian Parliament on Friday published the Government’s new state programme titled For Building the European State, which highlights the main goals of the Government - maintaining “a stable and safe” environment for citizens, strengthening democratic institutions, stimulating the economy “more” and taking “effective steps” necessary for the country’s integration into the European Union.
Irakli Chikovani, an MP from the ruling Georgian Dream party and the candidate for the position of the Defence Minister, on Monday highlighted the “priority” of enhancing international partnerships for the development of the nation's Defence Forces in his address to Parliamentary committees.
Four of the Georgian Parliament’s committees on Monday backed the new composition of the country’s Government and its programme for “building a European state” following changes sparked by the resignation of Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and nomination of the ruling Georgian Dream party Chair Irakli Kobakhidze as his replacement last week.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the candidate for the Georgian Prime Minister’s post, on Tuesday labelled President Salome Zourabichvili’s annual report to the Parliament as “underwhelming”, and claimed her address had “confirmed suspicions” about her intention to resign and establish a “pseudo-centrist political faction” ahead of October’s general elections.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Friday cited “problems in management communication” in comments on the resignation of Zurab Azarashvili, the Minister of IDPs, Labour, Health and Social Affairs.