Georgia’s Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili has announced that Mamuka Mdinaradze will assume the position of Deputy Prime Minister starting tomorrow, pushing back against criticism from the opposition over the appointment.
Speaking to journalists, Papuashvili said the “radical opposition” had created “false hype” around Mdinaradze’s new role, which he argued would ultimately damage their own credibility.
“From tomorrow, Mamuka Mdinaradze will take up the position of Deputy Prime Minister. What will they say once they see that he has an office, that the Government Administration apparatus is sufficient, and that coordination will be effective?” Papuashvili stated.
He claimed that the legislative amendments enabling the appointment will be adopted and enter into force today.
“This is yet another attempt by the radical opposition to stir up noise around every issue, which ultimately turns out to be a false alarm and undermines their own credibility. The law will be adopted today and will enter into force. From tomorrow, Mamuka Mdinaradze will serve as Deputy Prime Minister, and they will see that he has all the necessary resources — an office, the support of the Government Administration — and that coordination will be just as effective as it was when he led the State Security Service,” Papuashvili said.
He added that effective coordination among law enforcement agencies is critical in addressing current challenges, noting that similar coordination mechanisms exist in other countries, including France and Poland.
“I would like to wish Mamuka Mdinaradze success in his new role as Deputy Prime Minister. In today’s environment, it is essential that coordination between law enforcement bodies is effective,” he said.
The Georgian Parliament is currently considering, under an expedited procedure, a legislative package introducing the position of State Minister for Coordination of Law Enforcement Agencies within the government.
Under the draft law, the new State Minister’s office will be supported administratively and technically by the Government Administration. Parliamentary Secretary of the Government Vakhtang Bachiashvili has stated that the minister’s powers will be further defined by a government decree, and the office will be located within the Government Administration building.
Related story: Parliament backs State Minister position for law enforcement coordination in first reading
