“They portray it as if Bidzina Ivanishvili interferes in things he should not interfere in. Bidzina Ivanishvili is the honorary chairman of the ruling party. We went to elections with this configuration, and the electoral mandate belongs to Bidzina Ivanishvili as well - and primarily to Bidzina Ivanishvili. There is no point in inventing conspiracy theories,” Speaker of Parliament Shalva Papuashvili said, responding to comments about Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze’s briefing regarding the political role of Bidzina Ivanishvili.

According to Papuashvili, Ivanishvili is responsible for what he described as a 15-year period of continuous peace and security, and for ending a cycle in which Georgia allegedly faced recurring conflicts every few years.

When asked whether the Prime Minister’s briefing might be linked to a possible resignation or replacement, Papuashvili answered briefly: “No!”

“I think the essence of that briefing was clear - to expose false conspiracy theories being created inside and outside Georgia. They try to portray it as if Bidzina Ivanishvili interferes where he should not. He is the honorary chairman of the ruling party, and we went to elections with this configuration. The public knows very well what the political configuration in ‘Georgian Dream’ is, and it supported the party with that understanding.

The significance of Ivanishvili’s role in elections and public support since 2012 is undeniable. Around 1.2 million voters gave their mandate also to Bidzina Ivanishvili. Therefore, the claim that his mandate is illegitimate is a conspiracy that has collapsed.

Another claim is that his role is informal - but it is formal, because he is the honorary chairman. Important political decisions are made within the team, including parliamentary majority and government members. The Political Council includes representatives of both government and parliament, chaired by Irakli Kobakhidze, while the honorary chairman is Bidzina Ivanishvili, and decisions are made there.

What do you think the party political council gathers for - to discuss the weather?! We discuss matters of importance for the state. Therefore, this conspiracy has also collapsed.

The electoral mandate belongs to Bidzina Ivanishvili as well - and primarily to him. There is no point in inventing conspiracies. This is normal political life where party politics is central.

Regarding Ivanishvili’s role, look at Georgia’s recent history since 2011, when he entered politics. Look at any critical moment, internal or external, and consider how Georgia managed to survive and develop. For the past 15 years, Georgia has been removed from the logic of recurring wars every few years. That logic ended in 2012 thanks to Ivanishvili, and since then we have had a period of continuous peace and security, while the surrounding world is collapsing and on fire - and by all logic, we should either be at war or a post-war country,” Papuashvili stated.