Georgian PM picks first woman as defense minister

World May 01, 2015, 12:41

Tina Khidasheli currently chairs Georgia’s parliamentary committee for European integration

TBILISI, May 1. /TASS/. Tina Khidasheli, who chairs Georgia’s parliamentary committee for European integration, can become the first female defense minister in the country's history, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili announced on Friday as he presented the new government members.

Khidasheli, a 41-year-old lawyer by education, has been an MP since October 2012 and has chaired the respective committee since this March. She "has great experience of work in public politics, including in the sphere of protecting the rights of the servicemen," Gharibashvili said.

The prime minister has also named two other ministers in the cabinet: Gigla Agulashvili for the post of environmental protection and natural resources, and Tariel Khechikashvili to the post of minister of sports and youth affairs.

Since July 2014, seven ministers in Georgia’s government have been replaced which is 1/3 of the cabinet. According to the country’s constitution, the prime minister should present the new cabinet to the president who is due to submit it to the parliament within a week. The parliament has a further seven days to hold the confidence vote.

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