TBILISI, Georgia — Billioniare Bidzina Ivanishvili, whose Georgian Dream coalition won a majority of parliament seats in Oct. 1 elections, plans to unveil a Cabinet on Monday with him in the post of prime minister.
A member of President Mikheil Saakashvili's United National Movement reiterated the president's promise to cooperate in forming a government, the latest sign that Georgia's first post-Soviet transfer of power between parties through an election will be peaceful.
"It was a constructive and useful meeting," Ivanishvili told business leaders Friday after his four allies in Georgian Dream held talks with four members of the United National Movement. "I think we will be able to name a new government on Monday."
Ivanishvili did not reveal names of any nominees. He has said no members of the previous government would be retained.
The new parliament will convene Oct. 21. The president formally presents the nominations for the Cabinet, which needs a simple majority in the 150-seat chamber to be approved.
"We are not going to create any problems, and the president will submit a Cabinet which will be determined by representatives of Georgian Dream," said Pavle Kublashvili, a member of the United National Movement who took part in the talks at government headquarters.
Ivanishvili, 56, plans to be prime minister, a post that would make him Georgia's most powerful official when reforms weakening the head of state take effect after a presidential election next year.
Georgia's electoral system allocates 77 of the 150 parliament seats according to party lists and the other 73 to the winners of races in individual constituencies.
A full ballot count showed Georgian Dream had 54.9 percent and the United National Movement had 40.4 percent of the party list votes, the Central Election Commission said Friday.
In individual races, Georgian Dream won 39 seats, as compared with 34 seats for the United National Movement, according to the commission.
It has not announced exactly how many seats each party will have.
Related articles:
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
