Georgia: Head of Ruling Party Irakli Garibashvili Announces Exit from Politics

Irakli Garibashvili, Chair of Georgia’s ruling party, Georgian Dream, has announced his departure from politics, Orda.kz reports, citing Georgia Today. 

Speaking at a briefing held at the party’s headquarters, Garibashvili said he plans to transition to the private sector, adding that he has fulfilled his mission as party leader.

Today, Georgian Dream has fully taken shape as a unified and strong political force. Naturally, a special role in this belongs to the party’s founder and honorary Chair, Bidzina Ivanishvili. Against this backdrop, I believe that the honorable mission entrusted to me has been completed, Garibashvili said.

From 2012 to 2013, Garibashvili served as Georgia’s Minister of Internal Affairs.

On November 20, 2013, he was appointed Prime Minister of Georgia for the first time.

He held this position until December 30, 2015. From 2013 to 2015, he also served as the Chair of the political party Georgian Dream – Democratic Georgia.

He served as Minister of Defense of Georgia from September 8, 2019, to February 22, 2021. Garibashvili served as the Prime Minister of Georgia from February 22, 2021, until his resignation on January 29, 2024.

On February 1, 2024, Garibashvili assumed the chairmanship of Georgian Dream – Democratic Georgia.