Parliament Chairman Shalva Papuashvili Views Irakli Kobakhidze's Potential Premiership as 'Historic' for Georgian Democracy
By Liza Mchedlidze
Thursday, February 1, 2024
The Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia, Shalva Papuashvili, stated that if Irakli Kobakhidze becomes the Prime Minister, it will be a 'historic' moment for Georgian democracy.
"The candidacy of Irakli Kobakhidze will be discussed at the political council tomorrow. If he becomes the prime minister, it will mark a historic moment for Georgian democracy. For the first time since Georgia switched to a parliamentary republic, the prime minister will emerge from the parliamentary body. In principle, this aligns with the goal and idea of parliamentary democracies, where government representatives are typically individuals with parliamentary experience," Papuashvili said.
Papuashvili considers the potential appointment of Irakli Kobakhidze as Prime Minister to be a positive development for the opposition. He noted that this positivity is especially noticeable in specific reactions or responses from the opposition. Emphasizing the significance of having a former colleague-someone with whom they have shared years of political discussions in the same meeting hall-now being part of the government, Papuashvili suggested that this could foster a positive atmosphere or collaboration despite political differences.
"Therefore, I believe this will introduce a different dynamic to the relationship between the parliament and the government. It is also a highly positive development for the opposition, especially evident in certain responses. When a former colleague, with whom you have spent years in the same meeting hall engaging in political discussions, is now part of the government, there is a distinct change in interaction," Parliament Chairman stated.
Papuashvili noted that in certain instances, the arrangement where members of the government hold positions in the parliament aligns with the European model of parliamentary democracy, with Irakli Kobakhidze's role as prime minister serving as a notable example.
"This event, where the members of the government, including the prime minister, come from within the parliament, also brings a new dynamic to our democracy. It once again emphasizes that the parliamentary majority and the government are a unified political team. In some cases, as you may be aware, members of the government are also members of the parliament. Therefore, we are witnessing the European model of parliamentary democracy in the form of Irakli Kobakhidze's prime ministership," Papuashvili said.
