Ivanishvili Claims He Is Not "Informal Ruler"

The founder and Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party, Bidzina Ivanishvili, Prime Minister of the country in 2012-2013, says it is inappropriate to talk about “informal governance”, saying he is only the Chair of the ruling party.

In response to journalist Diana Trapaidze's question of why everyone in the country sees Ivanishvili as a major decision-maker, the ex-PM said his party has the majority in Parliament, gained through the elections, adding that the question was inappropriate.

"I am the Chairman of the party which has the majority in Parliament, the government has been approved by Parliament and we form the majority in the local self-government bodies in the regions. The role of this party is huge, so talks about informal governance are irrelevant,” he explained.

Since the GD came to power, it has been many times alleged that Ivanishvili is the “informal ruler” and makes all important decisions in the country "from the shadows."

The opposition claims it was he who “sacked” ex-PM Giorgi Kvirikashvili this summer, who had different views from Ivanishvili, and “appointed” the current PM Mamuka Bakhtadze.

By Thea Morrison

Related stories:

PM Resigns, New Candidate Chosen

Ivanishvili Praises Current PM, Criticizes Former

GD Majority Names Finance Minister as PM Candidate

Remarks from Former Georgian Prime Minister Announcing His Resignation

Georgian Prime Minister Resigns