The decision follows a vote of confidence held in the Georgian parliament on Thursday, February 8, where Prime Minister Kobakhidze and his government received support, with a majority of 84 deputies in favor. The only change within the government was the replacement of the Minister of Defense, with Irakli Chikovani stepping into the role. According to the Georgian service of Radio Liberty, 10 deputies voted against the new government.
At 45 years old, Irakli Kobakhidze becomes the seventh prime minister representing the Georgian Dream party, which has held power in Georgia since late 2012. His appointment comes after the resignation of his predecessor, Irakli Garibashvili, who stepped down on January 29 to assume the role of chairman within the ruling party.
Rumors of impending personnel changes within the ruling team began circulating towards the end of last year, coinciding with the official return to politics of Bidzina Ivanishvili, the billionaire founder of the Georgian Dream party. Ivanishvili’s reemergence saw amendments to the party’s charter, granting him the authority to unilaterally nominate a fellow party member for the position of prime minister.
The United National Movement (UNM), Georgia’s principal opposition party led by Mikheil Saakashvili, has characterized the leadership transition as indicative of an “unyielding crisis” within the ruling party. UNM Chairman Levan Khabeishvili asserted that the changes are driven solely by the interests of wealthy individuals, emphasizing concerns over potential corruption risks.
Responding to criticisms, Bidzina Ivanishvili pledged to take decisive action in the near future to address perceived corruption threats, signaling a commitment to tackling governance issues within the country.
