Georgian Prime Minister Garibashvili resigns – background unclear Macron invites a new Gaza deal: one hundred hostages in exchange for a sixty-day ceasefire

Iraqi Prime Minister Garibashvili of Georgia has announced his resignation. Garibashvili said on Monday in Tbilisi, the capital of the South Caucasus republic that aims to join the EU, that it would be a great honor for him to continue serving the country as head of the ruling Georgian Dream party.

He did not give a reason for his dismissal. The politician, who resigned as head of government in 2015 after two years, also thanked party founder Bidzina Ivanishvili for his cooperation so far.

Georgian oligarch Ivanishvili, who temporarily led the country as head of government, recently announced his return to politics. With his billion-dollar fortune, the party’s honorary chairman is considered the country’s most important mastermind. Georgia, torn between its large neighbor Russia and the EU, faces important parliamentary elections this year.

Under Garibashvili, Georgia refused to support sanctions imposed by the West on Moscow over Russia’s war against Ukraine. In contrast, pro-Western President Salome Zurabishvili, who has little power, has repeatedly accused the government of pursuing a pro-Russian course.

According to the media, the current party leader, Irakli Kobachidze, will take over the leadership of the government as the new prime minister. The 45-year-old lawyer studied in Düsseldorf, among other places. Garibashvili said he wanted to be actively involved in the election campaign for the November vote. He has been leader of government again since 2021. Georgian Dream has announced a party conference for February 1. (sda/dpa)