Azernews.Az

By Nazrin Gadimova

Georgian parliament approved a new cabinet led by Irakli Garibashvili and its governmental program on November 20. Ninety-three MPs passed a vote of confidence in the new government with 19 voting against.

MPs from the former ruling United National Movement (UNM), who represent the parliamentary minority, did not like the government and its program. Companions of former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said that after the Georgian Dream coalition came to power, the country's economic growth stopped and the number of jobs were reduced.

Despite the UNM refusal to support the new government, it still has been approved, as only a simple majority of MPs (50 percent +1) was required.

The structure of the Georgian government has not changed. The only change in the Cabinet of Ministers was the appointment of Alexander Chikaidze to the vacant post of Interior Minister.

The same day Georgia's President Giorgi Margvelashvili signed a decree appointing Irakli Garibashvili Georgian Prime Minister based on the vote of confidence of Parliament.

According to the norms of the new Constitution of Georgia, the government led by Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili stepped down automatically after new President Giorgi Margvelashvili's oath on November 17.

Georgia's ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili's United National Movement lost the October 1, 2012 parliamentary elections, gaining only 67 out of 150 seats in parliament and became the opposition, while the rival Georgian Dream led by Bidzina Ivanishvili won the election, gaining 83 seats.