TBILISI, November 14. /TASS/. The Georgian authorities have no plans for a major government reshuffle following the October 26 parliamentary election, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said.
"There have been no profound consultations and there are no plans for a major reshuffle," he said in an interview with Georgia’s Channel One, when asked if new government appointments could be expected after the country’s newly-elected parliament gathered to approve cabinet members.
According to the premier, increasing national GDP by 40 bln laris (some $14.6 bln) will be the Georgian Dream - Democratic Georgia ruling party’s goal for the next four years. Besides, major infrastructure projects are expected to be implemented. "As for the foreign policy, our priorities are clear. Georgia's integration into the European Union is our top priority," Kobakhidze stated.
Georgia held its parliamentary elections on October 26. According to the Central Election Commission, the ruling Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia party got 54.08% of the vote, securing the right to form the government on its own. Four opposition parties cleared the five-percent threshold: the Coalition for Change gained 10.92% of the vote, the Unity-National Movement received 10.12%, Strong Georgia got 8.78%, and Gakharia for Georgia garnered 7.76%. Other parties failed to clear the five percent threshold.
All opposition parties that have entered parliament refused to recognize the results of the elections, saying they were rigged. The opposition keeps holding protests in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi and plans to stop the Central Election Commission from adopting the final protocol and prevent parliament from holding its first meeting. November 21 is the deadline for announcing the outcome of the vote. After that, parliament will have ten days to gather for its forest meeting.