PM to Replace Chief of his Administration Bendukidze

PM Nika Gilauri said he planned to replace chief of the government’s administration, Kakha Bendukidze.

Speaking at Rustavi 2 TV’s new weekly political talk show, Position, on February 6 the new Prime Minister said he “respects” Bendukidze and that he had “a good relation” with him and added that he preferred to see Bendukidze in the capacity of his economic advisor.

Kakha Bendukidze, who amassed wealth in Russia in the 1990s, was invited to join the Georgian government by then PM Zurab Zhvania in 2004. After serving as the Economy Minister for several months, he then became the state minister in charge of economic and structural reforms in the government in December, 2004. In January, 2008, the post was abolished and Bendukidze was appointed as head of the government’s administration. Even after leaving the cabinet post, he was still considered as key figure in economy-related decision-making matters. He is a regular opposition target of criticism.

In 2004 when he was the Economy Minister and current PM Gilauri – the Energy Minister, Bendukidze, notorious for his temper and use of rude language, called Gilauri “a stupid” at a governmental session, aired by the Georgian television stations.

When asked whether Bendukidze would still remain “a team member,” PM Gilauri again responded that he would "consult" with Bendukidze.

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