GDDG Confers on Executive, Legislative Positions

Following its landslide victory in the parliamentary elections, the Georgian Dream – Democratic Georgia (GDDG) leaders are conferring to decide on new candidates in both executive and legislative branches , GDDG’s executive secretary, Irakli Kobakhidze said.

President Giorgi Margvelashvili will schedule and address the inaugural session of the new Parliament as soon as the Central Election Commission (CEC) summarizes the final vote tallies, the President’s office said on Tuesday. By law, the session should be held no later than November 19.

As the ruling party, GDDG will nominate the Parliament Speaker, vice speakers, as well as chairpersons of 15 committees. The party must also decide how many factions it will set up in frames its constitutional majority consisting of 115 lawmakers. GDDG will also have to designate the majority leader.

“No decision has been made yet on the parliamentary posts, but consultations are under way,” Kobakhidze said, who is rumored by the media to eye the Speaker`s seat. 

“As far as the governmental changes are concerned, it is the Prime Minister’s prerogative to make comments on this issue and he will do it,” Kobakhidze told reporters on November 2.

GDDG will re-nominate PM Giorgi Kvirikashvili no later than a week after the inaugural session of the newly elected Parliament and, following the President’s affirmation, Kvirikashvili will select the ministers and submit them for the Parliament’s confidence vote, along with the governmental program.

PM Kvirikashvili said ahead of the runoff elections that the portfolio of the State Minister for Diaspora Issues will be folded under the Foreign Ministry in the new cabinet. He also said he intends to nominate two or three new ministers for the approval by the newly formed Parliament, although he did not specify which ones.

According to recent media reports, at least four new ministers will be appointed in the government. “2030” news agency, close to the government, reported that Finance Minister Nodar Khaduri will lose his post in the new cabinet and will be replaced by incumbent Economy Minister Dimitri Kumsishvili; the latter will be replaced by Business Ombudsman Giorgi Gakharia, who ran fifth on GDDG proportional ticket.

The same news agency reported that Minister for Regional Development and Infrastructure Nodar Javakhishvili will be replaced by Zurab Alavidze, who currently heads the Strategic Project Coordination Department of the Government’s Administration. 

Kakha Kaladze, GDDG’s executive secretary and number two on the ruling party’s proportional list, who resigned from the post of Energy Minister to run in elections, said in the interview with Rustavi 2 TV that he sees himself in the government. “But I do not have any special demands; I am ready to do my utmost in any sphere where my team might need me,” he added. The position of the State Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration remains vacant, as an incumbent, Davit Bakradze, was appointed as Georgia’s new ambassador to the United States.

According to media leaks, MP Victor Dolidze, former member of opposition Free Democrats party, is to replace him. Dolidze served as Georgia’s ambassador to OSCE in 2005-2009, and chaired the parliamentary committee for European integration till February 2015. He has declined comment on his possible appointment.

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