Government’s Structural Reforms Launched

The Parliament approved on February 11 draft of structural reforms of the executive government.

The reforms consider reshuffle of the ministries and state departments, as well as outlines the rule of activity of the cabinet of ministers.

Justice Minister Zurab Adeishvili presented to the Parliamentary session on February 11 the draft of reform of the executive government.

According to the reform the number of ministries will be reduced from 16 to 15, while 16 state departments, which currently are independent state agencies, will be merged to the relevant ministries.

The Ministry of Construction and Urbanization will be merged to the Transport and Communications Ministry, which will be called the Infrastructure and Development Ministry.

Remaining 14 ministries are: Defense Ministry, Interior Ministry, Security Ministry, Justice Ministry, Foreign Ministry, Ministry of Economy, Finance Ministry, Ministry for Refugees and Accommodation, Agriculture Ministry, Environment Ministry, Ministry of Culture and Sport, Ministry of Education and Science, Healthcare Ministry, Energy Ministry.

The Intelligence Department will be under the Security Ministry’s subordination, while the Border Guard Department will be merged into the Interior Ministry.

In addition new structure – Financial Police – will be set up under the Finance Ministry subordination, which will be a key agency to fight the economic and financial crimes. The Parliament already approved the proposal with the first hearing on February 13.

Justice Minister Zurab Adeishvili also said that according to the reforms “the flexible system of governance will be created.”

“The cabinet of ministers will be a key body in this structure. Decisions by the cabinet will be taken by voting. The cabinet’s sittings will be held beyond the closed doors,” the Justice Minister told the lawmakers.

The new leadership also intends reforms in the State Chancellery. State Minister Zurab Zhvania, who is nominated as Prime Minister, said on February 12 that the State Chancellery will be renamed as the President’s Administration.  
 
He added that, number of the employees of the State Chancellery will be reduced from 600 to 120.

“However, all of them will have a chance to pass a test and keep their posts in case of success,” Zurab Zhvania said.
 
Head of the State Chancellery Petre Mamradze told reporters that liquidation of this “huge structure” is rather difficult and needs time. 
 
Recently President Saakashvili has appointed Irakli Chubinishvili as a chief of his new administration. Irakli Chubinishvili is the member of the State Minister Zurab Zhvania’s United Democrats party.

The stuff cut is also intended in other state structures and ministries, especially in tax department and police.