Georgian Dream`s presidential candidate officially announced
By Sabina Idayatova
The ruling Georgian Dream coalition nominated on Saturday the
Education Minister and Deputy PM George Margvelashvili as its
candidate for October, 2013 presidential elections in Georgia.
PM Bidzina Ivanishvili nominated the candidacy of Margvelashvili at
a special briefing, saying their candidate has all necessary
qualities for the presidency.
"I am happy that I know such a person and I think that especially
at this stage, when our democracy is still fragile... and our team
has an ambition to establish a genuine democracy, such a president
would be very much acceptable," Ivanishvili said, civil.ge website
reported.
Members of the Georgian Dream's political council unanimously
accepted the candidacy of Margvelashvili, and alternative
candidates were not considered.
In his turn Margvelashvili thanked coalition for the trust saying
that it is a huge honour and responsibility for him.
Margvelashvili, 43, graduated from Tbilisi State University,
philosophy specialty. He was rector of a Tbilisi-based Georgian
Institute of Public Affairs (GIPA) in 2000-2006 and then again in
2010-2012 before becoming education minister in Ivanishvili's
cabinet, was repeatedly named in media among potential candidates
of Georgian Dream.
The incumbent President Mikheil Saakashvili`s United National
Movement party has not yet named a candidate for the
presidency.
Besides, the other officially announced presidential candidate is the leader of Labor Party Shalva Natelashvili.
Earlier in December, Ivanishvili said that he would not run his candidacy for presidency and occupy the position where he will be necessary to his people.
In accordance with the amendments to the Georgian constitution,
after the inauguration of the president in 2013, the power in fact
will pass to parliament and government.
The government will be the supreme executive authority. The
President will formally propose candidates for the post of prime
minister, but only those who would be proposed by the parliament.
The president will not be able to take legislative initiatives and
call extraordinary sessions of parliament.