Georgian premier elected head of ruling party

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has been elected as the new chairman of the ruling party, Georgian Dream – Democratic Georgia.

Kobakhidze’s candidacy was unanimously approved by party members during a congress broadcast by local television channels, Caliber.Az reports, citing Georgian media.

"By decision of the congress, Mr. Irakli Kobakhidze has been unanimously elected as chairman of the political association Georgian Dream – Democratic Georgia," announced the party's executive secretary, Mamuka Mdinaradze, following the vote.

The party's previous chairman, former Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, announced his departure from politics on April 25. He ruled out any plans to join the opposition.

Kobakhidze previously led the party from January 2021 to February 2024, after which he was replaced as party chairman by former Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, and Kobakhidze became head of government. Founded in 2012, Georgian Dream, which came to power in the fall of that year, was also led in different years by its founder Bidzina Ivanishvili and former Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili.

By Khagan Isayev