Irakli Garibashvili to make a statement at 17:00
Irakli Garibashvili, the Prime Minister of Georgia, will hold a briefing today at 17:00 in the governmental administration. The topic of the briefing has not been officially announced, but it is widely expected that he will announce his resignation and the appointment of a new Prime Minister.
Garibashvili has been leading the Georgian Dream party and the government since February 2023, when he replaced Giorgi Gakharia, who resigned over the arrest of the opposition leader Nika Melia. Garibashvili has faced criticism from the opposition, civil society, and international partners for his handling of the political crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the security challenges posed by Russia’s aggression in Ukraine.
According to some media reports, Garibashvili will be replaced by Irakli Kobakhidze, the former speaker of the parliament and the current executive secretary of the Georgian Dream party. Kobakhidze is seen as a close ally of Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder and the chairman of the Georgian Dream party, who is widely regarded as the most influential figure in Georgian politics.
The reasons behind the possible reshuffle
The possible resignation of Garibashvili and the appointment of Kobakhidze as the new Prime Minister are seen as part of a broader reshuffle of the government and the ruling party, aimed at improving their public image and preparing for the upcoming local elections in October 2024.
The Georgian Dream party has been losing popularity and trust among the voters, as shown by the recent public opinion polls. The party has also faced internal divisions and defections, as some of its members have expressed dissatisfaction with the leadership and the policies of the party.
The government has also been under pressure from the opposition, which has been demanding early parliamentary elections and the release of the political prisoners. The opposition has boycotted the parliament since the October 2020 elections, which they claim were rigged and unfair. The political deadlock has been mediated by the European Union, which brokered an agreement between the parties in April 2023. However, the implementation of the agreement has been slow and incomplete, as some of the key issues remain unresolved.
The government has also faced challenges from the external environment, as the security situation in the region has deteriorated due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in January 2024. Georgia, which has aspirations to join NATO and the EU, has expressed its solidarity and support for Ukraine, and has called for the international community to increase the pressure on Russia. However, Georgia also faces the threat of Russia’s military presence and influence in its occupied territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which have been under Russian control since the 2008 war.
The expectations and reactions to the possible change
The possible change of the Prime Minister and the government has raised various expectations and reactions from different stakeholders and observers. Some hope that the new Prime Minister and the government will be more open to dialogue and cooperation with the opposition, civil society, and international partners, and will implement the necessary reforms to strengthen the democracy, the rule of law, and the economy of the country. Others fear that the new Prime Minister and the government will be more loyal and obedient to Ivanishvili, and will continue the policies and practices that have undermined the democratic institutions, the human rights, and the sovereignty of the country.
The opposition parties have stated that they do not expect any significant changes from the possible reshuffle, and that they will continue to demand early elections and the release of the political prisoners. They have also criticized Kobakhidze as a divisive and authoritarian figure, who was responsible for the violent dispersal of the anti-government protests in June 2019, and the adoption of the controversial constitutional amendments in 2017.
The civil society organizations have urged the government to respect the constitutional procedures and the public interest in the possible reshuffle, and to ensure the transparency and accountability of the process. They have also called for the new Prime Minister and the government to address the urgent challenges and needs of the society, and to restore the trust and confidence of the citizens in the state institutions.
The international partners and friends of Georgia have expressed their hope and expectation that the possible change of the Prime Minister and the government will not affect the stability and the continuity of the country’s foreign policy and its Euro-Atlantic integration. They have also reiterated their support and assistance for Georgia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and democratic development.
