Georgian Prime Minister resigns ahead of parliamentary election
- 29 January, 05:28
Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili tendered his resignation on Monday, saying he wanted to allow his replacement time to prepare for parliamentary election, without clarifying who would replace him.
“We are facing new challenges, we will elect a new parliament in the fall, and Georgian Dream must prepare for a convincing victory in the elections and keep moving forward to achieve other, bigger goals,” Garibashvili said.
Garibashvili said he'd been offered the job of leader of the ruling Georgian Dream party instead and that his new position will be discussed during the party’s congress on Thursday.
“Based on this political reality, I have received an offer from the Political Council to take the position of the Party Chairman, in connection with which a congress will be held on February 1,” Irakli Garibashvili went on saying.
Garibashvili said he will replace chair of the ruling Georgian Dream Party and former speaker of parliament, Irakli Kobakhidze. Shortly before the prime minister’s resignation, the Georgian pro-government TV channel Imedi said that Irakli Kobakhidze, the current leader of Georgian Dream, would succeed Garibashvili as prime minister.
It should be noted that Irakli Garibashvili has previously served as the head of the government twice. Initially appointed as the Prime Minister of Georgia in 2013, he unexpectedly left the post in 2015.
