Georgian PM Reshuffles Cabinet, Fires Seven Ministers
Georgia's Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili announced an unexpected cabinet reshuffle on Monday that will require all government ministers to face a fresh confidence vote in parliament.
"I decided to make changes in the cabinet's composition," Garibashvili told a news conference, adding that seven cabinet members, though no key ministers, will be replaced.
"We need to double our energy, motivation and efficiency in order to deliver on all promises pledged by the (ruling) Georgian Dream (coalition)," he said, giving no further reasons behind his decision.
According to the Georgian constitution, the change requires for the entire cabinet to step down. President Giorgi Margvelashvili -- a Garibashvili's ally -- then has seven days to submit a new cabinet list for parliament approval.
The legislature dominated by Garibashvili's coalition is expected to approve the proposal.
The premier said he would name by Wednesday new candidates to replace outgoing ministers, including of agriculture, infrastructure, culture, and environment.
Georgian Dream, a coalition of parties assembled by former prime minister and billionaire tycoon Bidzina Ivanishvili, came to power in October 2012, ending the decade-long rule of the pro-Western then-president Mikheil Saakashvili's United National Movement party (UNM).
Since then, a slew of Saakashvili's top allies have been investigated and some jailed, prompting Western concerns over politically motivated trials.
Saakashvili -- who left office in November 2013 when his second term expired -- is currently in self-imposed exile in the U.S., and has refused requests to return for questioning related to the trials.
Source: Agence France Presse
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