Azernews.Az

By Sabina Idayatova

The ruling Georgian Dream coalition nominated on Saturday the Education Minister and Deputy PM George Margvelashvili as its candidate for October, 2013 presidential elections in Georgia.

PM Bidzina Ivanishvili nominated the candidacy of Margvelashvili at a special briefing, saying their candidate has all necessary qualities for the presidency.

"I am happy that I know such a person and I think that especially at this stage, when our democracy is still fragile... and our team has an ambition to establish a genuine democracy, such a president would be very much acceptable," Ivanishvili said, civil.ge website reported.

Members of the Georgian Dream's political council unanimously accepted the candidacy of Margvelashvili, and alternative candidates were not considered.

In his turn Margvelashvili thanked coalition for the trust saying that it is a huge honour and responsibility for him.

Margvelashvili, 43, graduated from Tbilisi State University, philosophy specialty. He was rector of a Tbilisi-based Georgian Institute of Public Affairs (GIPA) in 2000-2006 and then again in 2010-2012 before becoming education minister in Ivanishvili's cabinet, was repeatedly named in media among potential candidates of Georgian Dream.

The incumbent President Mikheil Saakashvili`s United National Movement party has not yet named a candidate for the presidency.

Besides, the other officially announced presidential candidate is the leader of Labor Party Shalva Natelashvili.

Earlier in December, Ivanishvili said that he would not run his candidacy for presidency and occupy the position where he will be necessary to his people.

In accordance with the amendments to the Georgian constitution, after the inauguration of the president in 2013, the power in fact will pass to parliament and government.

The government will be the supreme executive authority. The President will formally propose candidates for the post of prime minister, but only those who would be proposed by the parliament. The president will not be able to take legislative initiatives and call extraordinary sessions of parliament.