Parliament to Discuss Cabinet

The Parliament starts today discussion of the cabinet named last week by President Saakashvili and State Minister Zurab Zhvania, who is set to chair the new cabinet.

Approval of the nominees, 15 of whom are ministers, 4 State Ministers and Prime Minister is seen as a formality, as no major objections against the cabinet are anticipated.

However, the Socialists and the New Rights opposition parliamentary factions voiced their protest on February 16 and they intend to vote against the new cabinet.

President Saakashvili called the cabinet “the most progressive in the Eastern Europe.”

He warned the nominees not to “take bribes and don’t give jobs to your relatives. And if you do, you will go straight to prison.”

President Saakashvili also said that the cabinet will be young and professional. Most of the cabinet members are in their thirties and nominees for Justice and Economy Ministers are 28. Many of them have been educated in the West.

The cabinet has already drafted a plan of action, which also will be discussed by the Parliament.