Irakli Kobakhidze has been appointed as the new Prime Minister of Georgia. The Parliament approved the new government composition, with 84 MPs supporting it and 10 voting against. Only the Minister of Defense has changed in the new cabinet, with Irakli Chikovani replacing Juansher Burchuladze. Kobakhidze announced on February 1 that Burchuladze himself wished to step down from his position and exit politics for another field of activity.
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili promptly signed a decree appointing Irakli Kobakhidze as Prime Minister. She justified this decision by emphasizing the need for unimpeded responses to natural disasters and urgent issues.
When asked whether he would cross the occupation line, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, who had previously stated he had not been there, responded that due to his new status, he would indeed need to cross it. He emphasized that this journey would be crucial for addressing the country’s challenges.
Kobakhidze also highlighted the significance of advice from the honorary chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream party, Bidzina Ivanishvili, stating, “He is a political grandmaster who can anticipate 10-15-20 moves ahead. Such foresight extends beyond politics, although I am specifically referring to politics. Therefore, his guidance is invaluable to us.”
Members of the parliamentary majority expressed gratitude to Bidzina Ivanishvili for nominating Kobakhidze as Prime Minister. According to Beka Odisharia, a member of the parliamentary majority, Kobakhidze’s leadership of the Georgian Dream has fostered a sense of camaraderie within the party, positioning it as a united front prepared to tackle any challenges.
Another Georgian Dream MP, Nino Tsilosani, highlighted the pivotal role of Kobakhidze in maintaining stability within the party during critical junctures:
“Personally, Irakli Kobakhidze was the primary target for the opposition. Without his intellectual and emotional resilience, his astuteness in politics, and, above all, his patriotism, our parliamentary team would have struggled to overcome these obstacles.”
On February 1, Irakli Kobakhidze, the former chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream party, was announced as a candidate for the position of prime minister. This decision was made public during the Georgian Dream congress, with Kobakhidze being nominated by Bidzina Ivanishvili, the party’s honorary chairman, often regarded as the country’s de facto ruler.
Kobakhidze is set to succeed Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, who vacated the office on January 29. Garibashvili, in turn, assumed the role of party chairman. Essentially, Garibashvili and Kobakhidze have swapped positions. The members of Georgian Dream unanimously endorsed Garibashvili as the party chairman.
Speaking to reporters after the congress, Kobakhidze stated that the three years of Garibashvili’s premiership had been “particularly successful,” indicating that the new prime minister has no plans to alter the government.
Kobakhidze’s government program, spanning 97 pages, outlines four main areas: foreign policy, economic development, social initiatives, and public administration.
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