Georgy Kalatozishvili, Tbilisi. Exclusively to VK
On Saturday, Georgia government sources began to circulate reports on the resignation of the government and the appointment of the Minister of Internal Affairs, Vano Merabishvili, to the position of the prime minister. Together with Merabishvili and the former prime minister, Nika Gilauri, Mikhail Saakashvili stated that his decision was connected with the coming autumn parliamentary elections “which will define development of the country. It is important that the government to present the election program and declare what will happen in the country after the elections.” According to President, “Vano Merabishvili has done a lot in the sphere of struggle against crime, “thieves in law” and can achieve success facing new difficult challenges, first of all unemployment.” Saakashvili also stated that the government will include a new position – the state minister on employment.
The new Premier thanked President for trust and promised that his main motto will be “More benefits to people”: “It is high time every Georgian to feel results of our modernization and our progress.” Merabishvili thanked “every policeman for establishing the new police and providing deep reforms. For labour, struggle, for preventing “thieves in law” and corruption from returning, and making our streets calm and safe.” The main targets of his future program are “employment, development of villages, accessibility of health care services.” And his main challenge is unemployment.
Appointment of Vano Merabishvili to the head of the government is not unexpected. On May 6 during the parade of the police in Gori President awarded Merabishvili one of the highest awards of the country – the Order of Saint George. Saakashvili said then that he “has a great future and a lot of significant businesses.” However, the time of appointment was unexpected – in October the parliamentary elections will take place, while in December 2013 the new constitution begins its operation, according to which the majority of power will come to the prime minister, and the president will implement only formal functions.
If Mikhail Saakashvili planned to take the position of Premier after 2014, he would hardly appointed such a prominent politician as Vano Merbashvili the prime minister. According to all polls, the Georgian police achieved great popularity among people after the conducted reforms. The policemen adore their minister. Merabishvili is the most powerful politician in the presidential “team of young reformers.” Thus, if Saakashvili wanted to become Premier in 2014, he needed a formal prime minister for the transaction period, for instance, Nika Gilauri.
Therefore, appointment of Merabishvili means that Saakashvili chose a successor. Thus he tries to maintain succession and prevent his most dangerous rivals from coming in office – Bidzina Ivanishvili and Nino Burdzhanadze.
