Georgian Dream says will not nominate candidate for presidential elections

The Georgian Dream ruling party will not nominate its candidate for 2018 presidential elections, the party’s Executive Secretary and Speaker of the Parliament Irakli Kobakhidze said.

"A meeting was held with the participation of the political board, parliamentary majority and government members. We discussed several important political issues, including the participation of the Georgian Dream in the presidential election," he said.

"On the basis of the discussion, we made a decision that the Georgian Dream will not nominate its candidate for the presidential election," RIA Novosti cited Kobakhidze as saying.

It is not yet clear which of the candidates will be supported by the ruling party, but according to Georgian media reports, it is likely that it will be ex-Foreign Minister Salome Zurabishvili.