Parliamentary committees hear ministerial candidates amid opposition boycott

The newly convened committees of the 11th convocation Parliament of Georgia on Tuesday held hearings for ministerial candidates, attended by representatives from the ruling Georgian Dream party.

The opposition, which disputes the legitimacy of last month’s general elections and plans to challenge the parliamentary powers, is absent from the discussions.

The committees focused on foreign relations, European integration, and regional  issues in the hearings. Sectoral ministerial candidates were also presented at a joint session of the committees on Legal Affairs, Human Rights Protection, Defence and Security, and Procedural Issues and Rules.

Upcoming hearings include a session scheduled for tomorrow, where candidates will be evaluated by committees covering Culture, Sports, Education and Science, Healthcare, and Social Affairs.

The Parliament is set to vote for  confidence in the new Government and its programme during a plenary session on Thursday.

Irakli Kobakhidze, who has been re-nominated for the Prime Minister role, leads the renewed Government. The cabinet has seen three ministerial changes, with Anri Okhanashvili stepping in as the Minister of Justice, Maka Botchorishvili  being nominated for the position of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and David Songulashvili being put forward as the Minister of Agriculture and Environmental Protection.