Ex-PM Garibashvili Named GDDG Political Secretary

Irakli Garibashvili, who served as Georgia’s Prime Minister in 2013-2015, has been selected by the political council of the ruling Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia (GDDG) to serve as GDDG Political Secretary, a position that was previously seen as supervising internal party consultation and discipline.

The party Chairman Bidzina Ivanishvili was present at today’s meeting of the GDDG political council, which made the decision.

“Everyone knows that Irakli Garibashvili is a man of remarkable qualities and experience, who participated in establishment and development of the Georgian Dream, and who, since 2011, has contributed significantly to the development of our statehood [serving] as Prime Minister and the party chairman,” GDDG Secretary General and Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze announced.

Garibashvili replaced Giorgi Volski on the position of the Political Secretary.  Volski would serve as the secretary responsible for relations with other political parties.

Garibashvili, 36, who worked in Ivanishvili’s companies for eight years before going into politics in late 2011, served as the Interior Minister for a year before becoming the PM in November, 2013 as Ivanishvili stepped down. In December 2015 Garibashvili resigned and left the party.

The resignation was linked by the analysts to sinking confidence ratings of the government, as well as the need to refresh the cabinet ahead of the 2016 Parliamentary elections.

Ivanishvili stated in 2015 that Garibashvili left “in zenith of success” and that he took this step independently, although in consultation with his mentor. Ivanishvili also said in a televised interview that he was telling Garibashvili that “his relatives would become a problem” and that “he had challenges in this regard”. Several of Garibashvili’s relatives held high positions, especially in police services, which caused opposition and media criticism.

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