Georgian PM Giorgi Kvirikashvili resigns

Giorgi Kvirikashvili has stepped down from his post as prime minister of Georgia.

At a special briefing at the governmental administration building, he said that in recent months his views on a number of fundamental issues had differed from those of the party chairman Bidzina Ivanishvili.

“Yesterday, the ruling political party had a meeting, after which a number of public statements were made,” the now former PM said. “It turned out the ruling party and I think differently about a number of issues, specifically, about the economic policy my government pursued. I would like to emphasise that in recent months my views have differed from those of the party chairman on certain fundamental issues. This is a normal process. I have not avoided any debates since 2012, and I think today is the moment when the chairman of the party should be given the opportunity to staff his team on the basis of his own views,” said Kvirikashvili.