Two ministers that have courted controversy in their government roles have been left out of the newly announced cabinet lineup, weeks before snap presidential elections.

Education Minister Kakha Lomaia is to be replaced by his deputy Bela Tsipuria, and Koba Subeliani—the current head of Tbilisi’s City Maintenance service—will take over from Minister for Refugees and Resettlement Giorgi Kheviashvili, a government official stated on November 19.

The cabinet was appointed after Lado Gurgenidze, a successful banker, was nominated on November 16 to take over as prime minister from Zurab Noghaideli, who is standing down citing health reasons.

Both outgoing ministers have courted dissatisfaction among some voting blocs. Lomaia implemented wide-ranging and drastic reforms in the education sector that left many academics out of a job.

Kheviashvili was embroiled in controversy over the summer after he allegedly used state funds to pay for personal medical treatment. At the time, there was speculation that he would not be able to retain his cabinet role much longer.

Speaking to academics at the National Museum on November 19, President Mikheil Saakashvili announced that Lomaia will be secretary of the National Security Council.

“I requested Lomaia—and this was my firm request—to become the secretary of the National Security Council. A person at this position must be able to react rapidly to the internal and external risks and threats which our country may face,” Saakashvili said.

The president also said that the outgoing secretary of the National Security Council, Kote Kemularia, will head a new agency to coordinate international transport and energy projects in Georgia.

Speaking on the same day, Gurgenidze underlined the importance of close cooperation between the new cabinet and parliament.

He added that he would use the next six weeks to forge close relations with other cabinet members, and reiterated that his impending premiership would focus on social issues.

“Now it is high time to use money from the budget of 2008 for the settlement of social problems,” he said, according to Rustavi 2.

The president must now submit the cabinet for parliament’s approval, which should come within a week.