Former ruling party leader, Georgian billionaire re-enters politics
- 31 December, 05:41
Georgia’s ruling Georgian Dream party elected its founder, billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, as its “honorary chairman” at its year-end congress held on December 30. This marks Ivanishvili’s return to politics for the third time.
Ivanishvili announced his decision to become the party’s chairman at the ruling party’s unscheduled congress. Ivanishvili said his return to politics was due to increased global changes.
“In such conditions, even a small mistake by the government can cost the country dearly. Georgia’s national goals can be considered essentially fulfilled only after we completely protect national identity, restore sovereignty, unite the country, and achieve foreign policy objectives,” said Ivanishvili in his address.
“In the conditions of the opposition’s collapse, the risks for the ruling team increase. The absence of opposition can easily make the ruling party complacent and weak. Moreover, when there is no external challenge, there is a temptation to invent conflicts within the team. Also, in the absence of opposition control, the risks of corruption increase, requiring special safeguards,” Bidzina Ivanishvili went on saying.
Furthermore, the billionaire claimed that the Georgian opposition has collapsed and its weakening is also making the ruling party complacent and weak.
Ivanishvili’s Georgian Drem party won the parliamentary election back in 2012, after which he became the Prime Minister of Georgia. He announced his decision to leave the politics one year later. However, in 2018, after a five-year break, he returned and assumed the chairmanship of Georgian Dream.
His current return to politics is also significant as the country will hold parliamentary election in 2024.
