Georgian Lawmakers Approve the New Government
By Tea Mariamidze
Friday, June 22
Georgia has a new government, which was approved by the lawmakers on Wednesday evening.
Out of the total of 150 MPs, 116 are the members of the ruling Georgian Dream (GD). 99 voted for and 6 were against.
Opposition European Georgia and the United National Movement refused to participate in the voting process of the new government, presented by the PM Candidate Mamuka Bakhtadze, saying the cabinet composition has not changed at all.
The new composition of the Cabinet has three new members: Davit Zalkaliani as the Foreign Minister, Giorgi Cherkezishvili as the Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, and Nikoloz Gagua as the Finance Minister.
The legislative body also granted vote of confidence to the Freedom, Rapid Development, and Prosperity Government Program, prepared by Bakhtadze.
The new cabinet consists of 14 ministers:
- Minister of Internal Affairs Giorgi Gakharia;
- Minister of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Accommodation and Refugees of Georgia Sozar Subari;
- Minister of Justice Tea Tsulukiani;
- Minister of Labor, Health and Social Affairs Davit Sergeenko;
- Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure Maia Tskitishvili;
- State Minister for Reconciliation and Civil Equality Ketevan Tsikhelashvili.
- Minister of Corrections Kakha Kakhishvili;
- Minister of Culture and Monument Protection Mikheil Giorgadze
- Minister of Defense Levan Izoria;
- Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Giorgi Cherkezishvili;
- Minister of Education and Science Mikheil Chkhenkeli;
- Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture Levan Davitashvili;
- Minister of Finance Nikoloz Gagua;
- Minister of Foreign Affairs Davit Zalkaliani;
The new Prime Minister thanked the lawmakers for their trust. He reiterated that the renewed cabinet serves as an interim government and in around a month he will reshuffle the government, reduce number of ministries from 14 to 11, and submit new cabinet for approval to the parliament.
We are negotiating with very interesting human resources, and we have already received their consent. We are talking about people from professional circles with relevant experience, qualifications, and visions, so that we may implement reforms together and successfully transform our economy and every area that is vitally important to our country, Bakhtadze stated.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Irakli Kobakhidze congratulated the new PM and wished him luck in future activities.
Georgia has a worthy prime minister. I am sure he will successfully lead our country, the Speaker stated.
