President Saakashvili named Bidzina Ivanishvili as next Prime Minister on October 17, President’s spokesperson said.

The outgoing government resigned on October 10 and President Saakashvili, according to the constitution had seven days to “select” a candidate for prime ministerial post.

According to the constitution, the President should have “selected” the candidacy in consultations with the parliamentary factions. As far as newly elected Parliament is not yet convened, the President should have formally “consulted” with factions from the outgoing Parliament.

The Parliament is scheduled to be convened on October 21 in newly built chamber in Georgia’s second largest city of Kutaisi.

Although officials say that the chamber itself, where sittings should be held, is ready to host the session, construction works in some parts of the building are still ongoing. 
 
President Saakashvili said on October 16 before departing to Bucharest to attend European People’s Party congress, that there should be no delay in forming of the new government.

“It’s not about whether I like this composition of the cabinet or not,” he said. “What matters is that because that’s the will of the Georgian people, we will cooperate with any proposed [government]. So we will submit this composition of the government to the Parliament [for confirmation] and I hope that the Parliament will be convened soon and undergo all the procedures timely. We should complete all the required constitutional procedures and deadlines as fast as possible and the Georgian Parliament should confirm this government as fast as possible… I would also like continuation of Georgia’s progress and the parliamentary opposition [UNM party] to perform its role of checking [executive government]. My role, as the President, is limited with these issues at this stage.”
 
According to the constitution, after prime ministerial candidate is named, the latter should select ministerial candidates through agreement with the President within 10 days; Ivanishvili finalized forming of his cabinet members on October 16.

Afterwards, the President within three days will present the government to the Parliament for confidence vote. Within a week the Parliament has either to confirm or reject nominated government and its program; support of at least 76 MPs is required for confirmation.

The Georgian Dream, according to yet to be finalized election results, will have 85 lawmakers in the new Parliament and President Saakashvili’s UNM party – 65.