Former PM’s “direct” involvement in politics could bring “positive processes” - ruling party head
In an interview with Imedi TV, Kobakhidze said Ivanishvili’s return to politics would “further weaken” the “collective United National Movement party” and strengthen Georgian Dream. Photo: Georgian Dream Press Office
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Irakli Kobakhidze, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Wednesday said the “direct” involvement of Bidzina Ivanishvili - the former Prime Minister and founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party - in politics could bring “positive processes” to the country “in many ways”.
In an interview with Imedi TV, Kobakhidze said Ivanishvili’s return to politics would “further weaken” the “collective United National Movement party” and strengthen Georgian Dream.
As for the victory in the [2024 parliamentary] elections, even if the events had continued as normal [without the former official’s return], we would not have any problems or risks, depending on the rating we have”, he said.
The ruling party head highlighted the “unprecedentedly high” support for the party by saying “since [coming to power in] 2012 we have not had such high support”.
He added that the development meant the domestic opposition really had a “reason to panic”.
Ivanishvili in December took the position of honorary Chair of the party, marking his return to the domestic political scene after his retirement in 2021.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Wednesday said citizens of the country “must make a choice not in favour of the war party” - in reference to the opposition United National Movement - but for “peace, tranquillity and economic development”.
Shalva Papuashvili, the Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, on Thursday claimed the decision of Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party and the former Prime Minister, in December to return to politics as the party’s Honorary Chair had caused “distress” among domestic opposition.
Bidzina Ivanishvili, the former Prime Minister and founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Saturday was elected the honorary Chair of the GD party at the congress meeting of the ruling party.
"I have made the decision to finally retire from politics and fully distance myself from the reins of power. I am leaving the post of party chairman, as well as the party itself and am returning to my pre-2011, private lifestyle. I will turn 65 years old in just a few weeks, and this is one of the important factors in making the decision to retire from politics,” Ivanishvili said, adding that the step ‘which is dictated by the desire to advance young people to the forefront...will not only not weaken, but will, in fact, further strengthen the ruling party.’