Irakli Kobakhidze to be appointed as Executive Secretary of Georgian Dream
By Tatia Megeneishvili
Wednesday, January 21
36 years old, constitutionalist Irakli Kobakhidze, will take the position of the Executive Secretary of the Georgian Dream (GD) Coalition. According to the General Secretary of GD Kakhi Kaladze, a decision concerning the issue has been made. However, it should be finally approved at the sitting of the Political Council of the GD that has not been scheduled yet.
The post of Executive Secretary of the Georgian Dream coalition became vacant when Zviad Jankharashvili, a relative of Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili,left the position after much speculation related to nepotism in state bodies.
Kaladze stated that the Georgian Dream required new blood and energy and Kobakhidze was the right candidate for empowering the party.
“We need an individual who will prepare the party for the upcoming elections,” Kaladze said.
Political Secretary of the GD Armaz Akhvlediani stressed that he did not know the candidate, but trusted the choice.
Kobakhidze himself confirmed that consultations with the party have been finalized and he waited for the official confirmation for his appointment.
“We should find the strong and weak aspects of the party, elaborate a common strategy and follow it in order to achieve success,” he said.
The opposition United National Movement commented on the issue and hinted at pro-Russian ties in the solution.
“Irakli Kobakhidze is a son of Gia Kobakhidze, who is a member of Nino-Burjanadze’s Pro-Russian Democratic Movement-United Georgia. There is a suspicious that there could be a merger between Burjanadze’s party and the GD…” UNM MP Sergo Ratiani said.
The speculation has been dismissed by GD MP Eka Beselia, who called the statement absurd.
