Newly-returned ex-PM Garibashvili excludes running in Mtatsminda by-elections
By Gvantsa Gabekhadze
Thursday, March 7
Former Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has dismissed speculations regarding his participation in the Mtatsminda by-elections this year to occupy the seat in parliament which belonged to the current President Salome Zurabishvili.
Consequently, Garibashvili also refused the media reports that he might replace Parliament Speaker Irakli Kobakhidze after being elected in the legislative body.
Garibashvili, who served as Prime Minister between 2013 and 2015 placed more emphasis on the reasons for his coming back.
“A significant period of time has passed since I left my post, but my heart and mind have always been focused on the processes that took place in the country.
“I was worried about some problems raised during this period, the chairman of the party [Bidzina Ivanishvili] talked about why he returned to politics and I can say the same. I think that the chairperson of the party clearly explained the reasons months ago when he returned into politics. Naturally, if everything went well neither he nor I would have returned, said Gharibashvili.
Ivanishvili, a billionaire who is frequently named as the informal ruler of the country by the opposition, returned to politics last year as “things went wrong.”
Shortly after his return Giorgi Kvirikashvili, who then served as prime minister, had to leave his post, naming controversies with Ivanishvili as the reason.
Members of the ruling party believe that Garibashvili’s return as the political secretary of the Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia party will make the party stronger.
The opposition says that the return “of dead souls” will not stop the party’s destruction.
Over the past several days seven ruling party MPs left the Georgian Dream.
