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Outgoing Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili has proposed as his successor the youngest member of the current cabinet, 31-year-old Interior Minister Irakli Garibashvili, describing him as "very practical," "very honest," and "a good manager." Garibashvili for his part has affirmed his commitment to Ivansivhili's aims and principles and vowed to work "for the development of the country."
Ivanishvili, who became prime minister 13 months ago after his Georgian Dream coalition defeated President Mikheil Saakashvili's United National Movement (UNM) in the October 2012 parliamentary elections, first announced in late June his intention to step down following the election of Saakashvili's successor. In a lengthy letter to the Georgian people two months ago explaining that decision, Ivanishvili said he planned to devote himself to strengthening civil society in Georgia to the point that it would be able to exert strong public oversight on the executive branch.