Tag Archives: Georgian Dream

Salome Zurabishvili, whose presidential candidacy has been endorsed by the ruling Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia, clarified her controversial Russo-Georgian war-related remarks, in which she accused ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili of starting “the [2008] part of the war.” Speaking at her campaign headquarters in Tbilisi on September 17, the presidential-hopeful said she wanted …

The Georgian State Security Service said in a brief statement on September 13 that it has opened an investigation under article 338 of the criminal code of Georgia, bribe-taking, to look into allegations against former Zugdidi Mayor, Lasha Gogia, of the ruling Georgian Dream party. The allegations are based on …

Salome Zurabishvili, whose presidential candidacy has been endorsed by the ruling Georgian Dream – Democratic Georgia party, said on September 12 during her campaign meeting in Kutaisi, Georgia’s second largest city, that she would remain independent in her decisions. “There are matters of principle, red lines and nobody will ever …

The ruling Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia will endorse the candidacy of Salome Zurabishvili for the October 28 presidential elections, Parliament Speaker Irakli Kobakhidze announced on September 9. Speaking at a special press briefing at the GDDG headquarters following the political council meeting today, Irakli Kobakhidze said the ruling majority would follow …

Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze said on August 21 that discussions over the presidential candidate are still underway in the ruling Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia party. Bakhtadze said that there are some in the ruling party, who consider the GDDG should have its own presidential candidate, while others believe that it might be better for the country’s democratic development if …

Dimitri Khundadze, a senior MP of the ruling Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia party, has called today for nominating a party candidate for the October presidential elections. Khundadze, who serves as the deputy chair of the healthcare and social affairs committee, said at a press briefing on August 13 that the GDDG …

The ruling Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia will not field a candidate for presidential polls, and may instead endorse the candidacy of an independent nominee, Parliament Speaker Irakli Kobakhidze announced at a special press briefing today. “Although we have a lot of candidates, who could obtain convincing victories in the first round …

Ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili’s remarks that GDDG leader Bidzina Ivanishvili was blackmailed by Tbilisi-based foreign ambassadors not to run for the upcoming presidential polls, and endorse an independent candidate instead, “is an insult to every diplomat accredited in Georgia,” Deputy Parliament Speaker Tamar Chugoshvili told media on July 26. Chugoshvili’s statement came a …

Former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili’s first televised interview since his return as the chair of the GDDG party, was received with mixed assessments in the political scene, with ruling party lawmakers and officials endorsing the messages voiced by their leader and with opposition politicians criticizing the former Prime Minister for his remarks. MP Tamar …

Former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, gave his first televised interview to the Georgian Public Broadcaster, since his return as the chair of the ruling Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia (GDDG) party. In this 1.5-hour interview, aired on July 24, Ivanishvili, who was largely unchallenged by the journalist, clarified the reasons for returning …

Consultations in the ruling Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia over the party candidate for the upcoming presidential elections will be over tentatively by the end of this week, Parliament Speaker Irakli Kobakhidze told reporters on July 23. “Several candidates were named when we held our initial consultations; there are many candidates in …

The ruling Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia party has expelled from its ranks MP Davit Chichinadze, following his public criticism of Parliament Speaker Irakli Kobakhidze. In a brief statement on July 18, the ruling party said Davit Chichinadze “has multiple times grossly violated the party discipline and the universally recognized moral and …

The number of ministries in the Government of Georgia will be reduced from fourteen to eleven, Prime Minister-designate Mamuka Bakhtadze said at a news briefing on June 18, following his consultations with ruling party leadership earlier today. Bakhtadze, who was tapped to be the country’s new head of government after …

On June 13, Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili announced his resignation citing differences of opinion on economic matters with the ruling Georgian Dream party members, as well as the GD founder and leader, Bidzina Ivanishvili. Voice of America’s Ani Chkhikvadze has asked Davit Kramer, Paul Stronski, John Herbst and Kenneth Yalowitz …

The ruling Georgian Dream party has tapped Finance Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze, former CEO of the Georgian Railway, to lead the Government of Georgia. The announcement was made by MP Archil Talakvadze, the leader of the Georgian Dream majority group, following the party leadership meeting today, which was attended by GD founder …

A divide within the ruling Georgian Dream party has come to head yesterday, as Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili has announced his resignation citing differences of opinion with his party comrades, as well as – importantly – GD founder and leader Bidzina Ivanishvili. While the departure of PM Kvirikashvili has been …

Former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, who established the Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia (GDDG) party in 2012, was endorsed as the GDDG chairman at the ruling party congress today. The congress, attended by government officials, lawmakers and regional delegates, was convened earlier this month, shortly after the ex-PM confirmed that he would …

President Giorgi Margvelashvili walked out on political debates following his annual state of the nation address today, citing lack of ability to respond to questions raised by the lawmakers. President Margvelashvili, who attended the legislators’ podium speeches for nearly 1.5 hours, requested possibility to follow up on their remarks. “I …

Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili delivered his fifth and final annual state of the nation address in the Parliament chamber in Kutaisi on May 2. Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili and some government members were present in the legislature along with the Chairperson of the Supreme Court, Chairman of the Constitutional Court, …

The ruling Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia (GDDG) party will downsize the political council, the party’s main governing body, from 21 to 15, and renew it members. The changes were announced by Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze, GDDG’s general secretary, following the political council sitting today, which was also attended by ex-PM Bidzina …