Kvirikashvili is new prime minister of Georgia

IANS TBILISI, DECEMBER 30 The Georgian parliament on Tuesday confirmed Giorgi Kvirikashvili as the country’s new prime minister after lengthy debates that lasted till midnight, Xinhua reported. “The parliament has approved the new government by 86 votes to 28,” speaker David Usupashvili said. The parliamentary vote also ratified Kvirikashvili’s reshuffled cabinet. The only newcomer in the cabinet is Mikheil Janelidze, 34, who became the new foreign minister to replace Kvirikashvili, former vice premier and foreign minister. Kvirikashvili, 48, became Georgia’s third prime minister since the Georgian Dream coalition came into power in October 2012, preceded by Bidzina Ivanishvili and Irakli Garibashvili. Kvirikashvili was nominated by the Georgian Dream ruling coalition on Friday as new prime minister following Wednesday’s surprise resignation of Irakli Garibashvili. Kvirikashvili has also been serving as foreign minister since early September 2015. Before that, he was the economy minister.