Georgian Parliament approves Irakli Kobakhidze as new Prime Minister
With 84 votes in favour and 10 against, the legislative body approved the PM and his cabinet, after Kobakhidze presented the new Government programme to the MPs. Photo via Parliament of Georgia
Tweet 
Share
Georgian Parliament on Thursday approved Irakli Kobakhidze, the former Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, as the Prime Minister of Georgia, following the resignation of the former PM Irakli Garibashvili.
With 84 votes in favour and 10 against, the legislative body approved the PM and his cabinet, after Kobakhidze presented the new Government programme to the MPs.
Georgia’s further integration into the European Union, by “maintaining national dignity” on the path, was highlighted by Kobakhidze while presenting his programme earlier today.
Photo via Parliament of Georgia
In his address, the new PM noted that “one of the most important” tasks of the Georgian Government's foreign policy was to resolve the Russia-Georgia conflict and peacefully restore the country’s territorial integrity.
Kobakhidze hailed the Georgian Dream Government's efforts for ensuring the country’s “democratic transformation” since taking office in 2012, while slamming the previous United National Movement authorities for committing “systemic crimes”.
The official also credited Bidzina Ivanishvili, the former PM, GD founder and current Honorary Chair of the party, as well as the latest former PM Garibashvili, for their roles in the country’s “political, economic, and EU integration progress”.
Garibashvili announced his exit from the position of the head of the Government on January 29, and he was elected as the ruling party’s new Chair on February 1 at the session of the Congress of the GD party, while Kobakhidze was nominated as his replacement.
Peter Fischer, the German Ambassador to Georgia, on Thursday wished success to Irakli Kobakhidze, the candidate for the position of Prime Minister, as well as Georgia on its European integration path.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the candidate for the post of Prime Minister of Georgia, on Thursday hailed the Georgian Dream Government's efforts for ensuring the country’s “democratic transformation” since taking office in 2012, while slamming the previous United National Movement authorities for committing “systemic crimes”, “stalling” Tbilisi’s European integration, and involvement in a “treacherous handover” of territories to Russia following the 2008 war.
Sheraz Gasri, the French Ambassador to Georgia, on Thursday wished Irakli Kobakhidze, the candidate for the position of the Prime Minister, a successful implementation of the plan for “Georgia's Euro-Atlantic aspirations”.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the candidate for the position of the Prime Minister of Georgia, on Thursday said peaceful restoration of the country’s territorial integrity and “complete overcoming” of poverty were the “two most important national tasks” of the Government.
Robin Dunnigan, the United States Ambassador to Georgia, on Wednesday noted her office’s “positive” cooperation with Irakli Kobakhidze, the candidate for the position of the Prime Minister of the country.
Oliver Varhelyi, the European Union Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, on Thursday congratulated Irakli Kobakhidze on being approved as the country’s Prime Minister.
Irakli Kobakhidze, Georgia’s newly approved Prime Minister, will make his first visit as the head of the Government to Brussels.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Friday congratulated Irakli Kobakhidze on his confirmation as Georgia's new Prime Minister by the country’s Parliament.
Georgian Defence Minister Irakli Chikovani on Friday said leaders of NATO viewed Georgia as the “closest partner” among non-member countries, as a credit for the state’s “achievements” of the past 10 years.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the newly appointed Prime Minister of Georgia, on Thursday said domestic anti-corruption laws could be revised if advised by the Parliament’s Legal Affairs Committee.
Josep Borrell, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, on Friday extended his congratulations to Irakli Kobakhidze, the newly confirmed Georgian Prime Minister, and his cabinet, saying he was “looking forward” to continuing “working closely” with Georgia during a “historic phase” of relations.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the newly confirmed Georgian Prime Minister, on Friday signed a decree on the appointment of ministers following the confidence vote in the Parliament on Thursday.
Irakli Kobakhidze, Georgia’s newly confirmed Prime Minister, on Friday introduced Irakli Chikovani as the country’s new Defence Minister.
James O'Brien, the Assistant Secretary of the United States Department of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, on Saturday congratulated the newly appointed Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Kobakhidze and his team.
Following the ministerial appointments under Georgia’s newly approved Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Friday, the personnel changes have been made in the Defence and Economy ministries, the Government Administration said on Sunday.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the newly appointed Prime Minister of Georgia, on Monday named his deputies and the new Head of the Government’s Strategic Communications Department, while highlighting the “absolutely realistic ambition” of ensuring the country's “leading position” in combating corruption.
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the Turkish President, on Friday extended his “sincere” congratulations to Irakli Kobakhidze on his appointment as the country’s new Prime Minister.
Shalva Lomidze, the head of the Intelligence Service of Georgia, on Wednesday briefed Irakli Kobakhidze, the newly appointed Prime Minister of the country, on his office’s operational and analytical activities.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Wednesday discussed priorities and gave “concrete assignments” to the country’s new ambassadors to Brazil, China, Estonia, India, Israel, Jordan and Kuwait, the Government’s press office said.
Mikheil Sarjveladze, the Chair of the Human Rights Committee of the Georgian Parliament, on Sunday said the decision of the newly approved Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze to make his first visit as the head of the Government to Brussels highlighted the country’s European integration as a “special priority” for the Government.
Irakli Kobakhidze on Monday left for his first official visit to Brussels as Georgia’s Prime Minister, the Government Administration said.