Saakashvili on Cabinet Reshuffle
President Saakashvili said, while commenting on the recent cabinet reshuffle, that “a new blood” was needed.
In televised remarks at a meeting with PM Grigol Mgaloblishvili, Saakashvili said late on December 5, that the leadership was considering changes for “past several weeks.”
The cabinet was last time reshuffled on November 1.
“Sympathy towards your work has already emerged among the people,” Saakashvili told Mgaloblishvili, who became the Prime Minister on November 1. “There still is an expectation for changes in the society.”
“We are currently under duel burden of the world [financial] crisis and Russian aggression. It is good that you have thought much about the changes in the cabinet and courageous and extraordinary steps are needed. You will confirm that the government had a full autonomy while taking this decision, although the President is also responsible. I will note with satisfaction that we have been discussing these changes in the cabinet for past several weeks and elaborating various options in this regard. I have spent past several days in consultations with several possible candidates [for the cabinet posts]. And this is the first time when the information about the changes in the cabinet was not leaked in the press. It means that on the one hand we are asking each other and are taking into account each other’s opinion and on the other hand we can work in coordination so that to rule out intrigues and speculations over this matter [cabinet reshuffle].”
“Continue your observation,” Saakashvili told the Prime Minister, “and see who is working and how [in the government]. A person is judged based on achievements – if one works well, that person should be promoted, but if one works badly, we won’t keep that person.”
“But on the other hand, not a single person, who has been dismissed [as a result of this recent reshuffle] deserves to be thrown out. These are people, who have done great services and are good professionals and we should use them on various senior positions.”
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