Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibachvili, in office since February 2021, announced his resignation from the government on Monday, before the legislative elections scheduled for next fall.
“Today I am leaving my post as prime minister
,” declared Irakli Garibachvili in a speech on Georgian television.
The official, who had already led the government between 2013 and 2015, specified that on February 1 he would become president of the
“
Georgian Dream
”
, the ruling party founded by businessman Bidzina Ivanishvili.
“The Georgian Dream must prepare for a convincing victory in the legislative elections in October
,” justified Irakli Garibachvili, 41, in his speech.
Path to EU membership
This decision comes a month after the return to the political scene of oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili, the richest man in Georgia and whom many consider to be pulling the strings of power in recent years.
In December 2023, he took up the post of honorary president of the
“Georgian Dream”
, which observers had analyzed as a first step towards a more active participation of the businessman in national politics.
According to the pro-government television channel Imedi TV, Irakli Garibachvili will be replaced by the current leader of the Georgian Dream and close to Bidzina Ivanishvili, Irakli Kobakhidzé, 45 years old.
Georgia has embarked on the path to membership of the European Union in recent months, but Brussels is demanding judicial and electoral reforms from Tblisi first, including in particular the reduction of corruption in the country.
The departure of Irakli Garibachvili comes against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine which has created serious concerns in Georgia, where the memory of the intervention of Russian troops in 2008 and the short war that followed remains fresh.