Georgian Parliament Approves New "Temporary" Government
Georgian Parliament supported the new cabinet presented by PM candidate Mamuka Bakhtadze on June 20 with 99 votes for and only 6 against, as the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party has 116 seats in a 150-member parliament.
The vote for a new government became necessary after the former Prime Minister of Georgia, Giorgi Kvirikashvili, stepped down on June 13 amid internal disagreement within the governmental team.
The new cabinet consists of the same number of ministers as the previous one; however, Bakhtadze announced earlier that in 2-3 weeks he intends to reduce 14 ministers to 11 and apply to the parliament for confirmation.
The new “temporary” governmental cabinet is as follows:
1. Minister of Foreign Affairs – Davit Zalkaliani
2. Minister of Culture and Monument Protection – Mikheil Giorgadze
3. Minister of Defense – Levan Izoria
4. Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development – Giorgi Cherkezishvili
5. Minister of Education and Science – Mikheil Chkhenkeli
6. Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture – Levan Davitashvili
7. Minister of Finance – Nikoloz Gagua
8. Minister of Corrections – Kakha Kakhishvili
9. Minister of Internal Affairs – Giorgi Gakharia
10. Minister of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Accommodation and Refugees of Georgia – Sozar Subari
11. Minister of Justice – Thea Tsulukiani
12. Minister of Labor, Health and Social Affairs – Davit Sergeenko
13. Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure – Maia Tskitishvili
14. State Minister for Reconciliation and Civil Equality – Ketevan Tsikhelashvili.
Prior to voting, the opposition parties harshly criticized Bakhtadze and the new composition of the government, saying none of them presented serious and effective action plans while delivering speeches at the parliament during the extraordinary session.
European Georgia (EG) and the United National Movement (UNM) refused to participate in the voting process on Wednesday evening.
Davit Bakradze, one of the leaders of the EG party, believes the new government will not be able to respond to the public expectations.
“Their program says nothing about the expectations of the larger part of society, including the reform of the law enforcement system,” Bakradze said.
UNM member Salome Samadashvili says the new government’s plan does not respond to the main challenges facing the country.
“Mamuka Bakhtadze does not have experience in any direction and he has no visions regarding the main challenges of the country. The ministers presented in the cabinet are not new faces. Society was asking for changes, especially in terms of the Justice and Interior Ministers,” she stated.
Georgia’s Parliament Speaker Irakli Kobakhidze congratulated Bakhtadze on gaining the confidence of the lawmakers.
"I am glad that this position was taken by a worthy person and the country will have a dignified prime minister who I am sure will lead the country's management successfully. We are moving to a new stage of development of our country. I wish Bakhtadze success,” Kobakhidze said.
By Thea Morrison