Georgi Kalatozishvili, Tbilisi, exclusively to VK
The head of the ruling coalition " Georgian Dream", Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili has finally announced the name of his successor as prime minister. After a brief meeting with the political council of the coalition, as well as the leaders of the parliamentary majority, he went into the conference room of one of his residences, accompanied by Interior Minister Irakli Garibashvili. It immediately became clear that there would be no sensations: Irakli Garibashvili was considered the most likely candidate for the post of prime minister after the resignation and departure from government of billionaire Ivanishvili.
Most observers agreed that Garibashvili is an ideal figure for both Ivanishvili and the coalition as a whole, as well as the members of the Cabinet, many of which could treat any other candidate with a certain amount of jealousy. And the leadership of Minister of Internal Affairs was never questioned. Especially as Garibashvili is the closest person to Ivanishvili. For many years he worked under his guidance in his commercial and charitable structures. Garibashvili has no other particular background or political past. No one knew him until 2012, that is, until the appearance of Ivanishvili. He has been successful is the rank of assistant and the "right hand" of the billionaire. According to political scientist Georgi Nodia, "Ivanishvili treats Georgia as an enterprise that he bought and then transferred to the management of the most effective and talented of his managers, whom, among other things, he trusts more than any other assistants".
Apparently, this candidacy for Ivanishvili was so uncontested that opposing him for the other leaders of the coalition would be tantamount to action against the prime minister and breaking with the head of the coalition. It is not surprising that during the debate at the political council of the "Georgian Dream" other candidates were not promoted. Although it is known that, for example, the defense minister and leader of the "Free Democrats" Irakli Alasania also had hopes for this post. But Alasania is an independent political figure with a rich past and influence in political circles. Therefore, for Ivanishvili he was unacceptable as prime minister.
Under the new constitution which comes into force immediately after the inauguration of President Margvelashvily, the prime minister becomes the de facto leader of the country and the central figure in the government, while the president plays a minor role and carries out only representative functions .
That is, announcing his successor ( the parliamentary majority will probably approve him in a vote in the legislature body) Ivanishvili has made it clear that leaving the office he just "goes into the shadows" maintaining significant leverages to influence the processes in the country . He is convinced that the government, in which key posts are held by his former aides for Cartu foundation and the eponymous bank, is unlikely to go out of control in any possible scenario in the parliament, even in the case of split or collapse of the ruling coalition.
Garibashvili may become the youngest prime minister in the world. Now he is only 31 years old. he is a legal expert on international affairs, a graduate of Sorbonne, fluent in English, French and Russian. His wife, Nunuka Tamazashvili, according to the current prime minister, "will be a great first lady". Irakli and Nunuka have two children. According to experts, in tandem with another protégé of Bidzina Ivanishvili - President Margvelashvily - the new prime minister will create the most comfortable situation for the governance of the country "out of the shadows ", including the implementation of economic and business projects that Ivanishvili would like to bring to life, not burdening himself with publicity .
