New Georgian government of the coalition "Georgian Dream"

The Georgian parliament has approved the new government headed by the leader of the political coalition "Georgian Dream" Bidzina Ivanishvili.

88 deputies voted for the new cabinet, and 54 parliamentarians from the opposition party "United National Movement" voted against it. 141 MPs of 150 were registered to vote.

Georgia's new government is formed as follows:

Defense Minister and Deputy Prime Minister – Irakli Alasania

Energy Minister and Deputy Prime Minister – Kakha Kaladze

Minister of Finance - Nodar Khaduri

Interior Minister - Irakli Garibashvili

Minister of Justice - Thea Tsulukiani

Minister of Foreign Affairs - Maya Panjikidze

Minister for Reintegration – Paata Zakareishvili

Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Government - David Narmania

Economy Minister - Giorgi Kvirikashvili

Minister of Labour, Health and Social Affairs - David Sergeenko

Minister for the Environment - Khatuna Gogaladze

Minister of Education and Science - Giorgi Margvelashvili

Minister for Refugees and Accommodation - David Darakhvelidze

Minister for Youth and Sports - Levan Kipiani

Minister of Corrections - Sozar Subari

Culture Minister - Guram Odisharia

Agriculture Minister - David Kirvalidze

State Minister for Diaspora Affairs – Kote Surguladze

State Minister for European Integration - Alexi Petriashvili

Minister for Employment - Kakha Sakandelidze

According to the Georgian media, in the near future there will be a division of the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure. The infrastructure component will become part of the Ministry of the Economy, and Regional Development will be given to the management of a special service, which will report to the Prime Minister. Regional Development Minister David Narmania will be the first deputy minister of finance.

As previously reported by VK, establishment of the new government was preceded by a presentation of the agenda of the current Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili.

He presented a vision of his cabinet on the main areas of the politics, economy and social life of the Georgian state under the slogan "For a strong, democratic, united Georgia." Bidzina Ivanishvili has promised not to divide people into friends and foes and "to ensure justice and freedom in the country," with no "political persecution."

According to the program presented, Georgia remains allied with the U.S., but it will establish a new format of relations with neighbors in the region, including with Russia. Dialogue with Moscow will be based on the use of international mechanisms which will help in the gradual overcoming of the present crisis.

"Georgia should get the function of Caucasian interests combined with balanced regional politics. It is important to deepen political and economic relations with neighboring Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkey," Ivanishvili said.

Touching upon the settlement of the conflict, he called it an essential component of the foreign relations of the government. In his vision, the strengthening of democratic institutions and the involvement of civil society, including public diplomacy, will contribute to the success of the process of conflict resolution.

In economic policy amongst the priorities there will be de-monopolization of the economy, agriculture, small and medium-sized business. The government will also pay attention to reforms in the pension sector and social welfare, as well as in healthcare. Georgia will introduce a funded pension system, and there will be a universal basic health insurance package. New utility tariffs will also be recalculated and benefits for people with low income and disadvantaged people will be legalized

In the area of national policy the new Georgian government intends to introduce various mechanisms of integration and inclusion of ethnic minorities, in particular, protecting and promoting the culture of ethnic minorities, developing their languages, traditions and values, to the extent that the creation of multilingual education, while maintaining compulsory teaching of the Georgian language, is possible to be considered.