Georgian billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, leader of the Georgian Dream coalition that won October 1 parliamentary elections, named his candidates to the key posts in a new Georgian government on Monday.
He proposed Irakli Alasania, leader of the Our Georgia – Free Democrats party for the post of Deputy Prime Minster and Defense Minster.
Coalition press speaker Maya Panjikidze was nominated as Foreign Minister. Irakli Garibashvili, another of the coalition leaders, was given the Interior Minister post.
Former Milan soccer star Kakhi Kaladze will take the post of Regional Development Minister and second Deputy Prime Minister.
Also appointed were Teya Tsulukiani as Justice Minister, David Kirvalidze as Agriculture Minister, Paata Zakareishvili as State Minister for Reintegration, Alexei Petriashvili as European Integration Minister, Amiran Gamkrelidze as Health and Social Affairs Minister, Sozar Subari as Corrections and Legal Assistance Minister, Levan Kipiani as Sports and Youth Affairs Minister, Guram Odisharia as Culture and Monument Protection Minister, and Konstantin Surguladze for State Minister for Diaspora Issues.
Nodar Javahishvili and director of Cartu Bank was appointed head of the National Bank.
Other appointments will be made within days, Ivanishvili said.
Ivanishvili said he may make structural changes to government and reduce the number of ministries.
“There are too many ministries, and I don’t rule out combining some of them, but this question has not yet been discussed and it will be decided after parliament is convened,” he said.
Georgian Dream won 83 out of 150 seats in parliament. President Mikheil Saakashvili’s United National Movement (UNM) will have 67 seats.
