By Georgy Kalatozishvili, Tbilisi. Exclusively for Vestnik Kavkaza
The political council of the Georgian Dream coalition held a meeting at the Rostom Palace of billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili yesterday evening. It was the last session of the coalition. The Free Democrats declared that they were quitting the party due to the dismissal of their leader Irakli Alasania from the defense minister's post.
The ex-minister himself arrived at the palace, only to leave it soon after. He hinted that the main reason for the failure of the negotiations was the presence of Bidzina Ivanishvili at the session. "I did not come here for a dialogue with him," admitted Alasania. In his words, the Free Democrats were leaving the ruling coalition and the parliamentary majority. Khatuna Samnidze, the chairwoman of the party, said that the party will continue cooperation on topical issues.
Foreign Minister Maya Panjikidze declared her resignation from the ministerial post as her reaction to the switch from the European integration course. State Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Alex Petriashvili quit his post too. "Georgia is ending its pro-Western course, otherwise the prosecutors would not have dared to fabricate a criminal case against the most pro-Western institution, the Defense Ministry," he explained.
This mantra has been chanted for two days, Irakli Alasania himself pointed out the political background and the blow to the European vector of development due to the investigation of corruption cases in his institution and the arrest of five high-ranking executives of the Defense Ministry. "It is unclear how and why he thinks he has the right to identify himself as a persona with a pro-Western course of the country," wonders political analyst Giorgi Khukhashvili, an ex-advisor to Bidzina Ivanishvili, in an interview with Vestnik Kavkaza. Georgia signed the EU Association Agreement and remains committed to joining NATO and taking part in the military operations of the alliance.
Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili described the resignations as sabotage and asked the public not to make a tragedy out of it. "We will present worthy candidates for all posts in the near future," the PM promised.
Georgian Dream risks losing power. If the Republicans, Free Democrats and the United National Movement of Mikheil Saakashvili reach a consensus, they will form a new majority in the parliament and initiate a vote of no confidence in the government of Irakli Garibashvili. The chances of such a scenario will grow if President Giorgi Margvelashvili joins the new tactical coalition. The head of state has already expressed grievances over the "backstage control over the country," hinting at the great influence of the billionaire on the 32-year-old prime minister.
Nonetheless, a lot will depend on the will and capability of Irakli Garibashvili. This young man with full formal power in the country has great responsibility in preventing Georgia falling into fresh chaos and civil tensions. Whether he succeeds in accomplishing this historic goal or not will be seen in the future.
