Incoming Georgia PM announces new government program

A political heavyweight and Interior Minister since December 2004, Ivane Merabishvili presided over police reforms and a crackdown on corruption, winning praise from many international institutions and observers.

There was a speculation that Merabishvili’s close associate from within the Interior Ministry will succeed to ministerial post, however, it turned out to be wrong.

Bacho Akhalaia, who was the Defense Minister since 2009 and is considered to be one of the closest allies of President Saakashvili and a “stricter hand”, was appointed to the Interior Minister’s post.

Education Minister Dimitri Shashkin will replace Akhalaia on the post of Defense Minister. Changes also applied the ministry in charge of IDPs, as well as introduction of a new Ministry for Employment. Other ministers remain unaffected by the cabinet reshuffle.

Some observers suggest that the reshuffle may signal that President Saakashvili is not planning to stay in power as Prime Minister after his final term, while others see this in the context of upcoming parliamentary elections and rising competition from a newly created opposition group, which also focuses on social issues in its campaign.

Ivane Merabishvili is likely to retain his new post at least before the parliamentary elections in October. According to the Constitution, the government and Prime Minister will have to resign then and President Saakashvili will have to present new cabinet or re-submit the one existing to the new Parliament for confidence vote.