Speaker of Parliament Shalva Papuashvili explains why the government changed its decision to create the position of State Minister for Regional Policy Issues.

As he noted, “the creation of this position was conceived based on Mamuka Mdinaradze’s political experience, political weight, and knowledge.”

According to the Speaker of Parliament, “given that Mamuka Mdinaradze has decided to leave politics, this need no longer exists.”

“It was said from the very beginning that the tasks the Prime Minister assigned to Mamuka Mdinaradze, including the coordination of law-enforcement agencies, were of course based on his personal capabilities as well. He performed this function very well, and this coordination is well established today. There was a desire to do the same in terms of coordination in the regional direction. Given that Mamuka Mdinaradze has decided to leave politics, this need no longer exists. The creation of this position was conceived precisely based on Mamuka Mdinaradze’s personal capabilities. The government is a political team; in a political team, political figures who have the resources to carry out certain activities are important. In order to coordinate various ministries or structures, political experience and resources are of course needed, which Mamuka Mdinaradze possessed to a particular degree in this regard. His work in coordinating law-enforcement agencies is the best proof of this. Of course, the creation of this position was conceived precisely based on Mamuka Mdinaradze’s political experience, political weight, and knowledge; since he has decided to leave politics, this decision has been changed. Technically, the government will withdraw [this draft]. As far as I know, the existing draft has been withdrawn.

As for the position of head of the new ministry, there is a Minister of Infrastructure, and in this regard, I think Rezi Sokhadze is handling it well,” Papuashvili stated.

Regarding Mamuka Mdinaradze’s decision to leave politics specifically, the Speaker of Parliament said that “a person makes a decision when he thinks that decision is ripe - there is no appropriate time or weather for it.” Papuashvili notes that Mdinaradze’s decision is personally regrettable for him, but he respects it.

“He himself spoke about the reasons why he made the decision. He himself ruled out other insinuations that might have followed his decision. I think he held a very open and sincere briefing. Journalists had the opportunity to personally receive an explanation of the decision from him. Of course, it is very regrettable for me personally that he made this decision, but I respect his decision. This is how we should accept it - people have the right to determine their own political or other path,” Papuashvili stated.

In response to the question “Why exactly now?”, Papuashvili answers that “there is no appropriate time or weather.” “It would never have been too early or too late. Decisions are made when they are made. There is no corresponding time or weather for this. A person makes a decision when he thinks that decision is ripe. No one from the outside can assess this,” Papuashvili stated.

For reference, the position of State Minister for Regional Policy Issues will no longer be created, and the ministries of Regional Development and Infrastructure will probably be reunited again.

We also remind you that a few weeks ago the creation of the post of State Minister for Regional Policy Issues was announced, a position that Mamuka Mdinaradze was to occupy; however, a few days ago Mdinaradze announced his departure from politics. As for the ministries of Regional Development and Infrastructure, these agencies, which had functioned as a single ministry for years, were separated in April 2025, and in September of the current year the complete abolition of the Ministry of Regional Development had been decided.