Georgia’s Cabinet Reshuffle: Getting Hawkish About Economic Reform?

The recent Georgian cabinet reshuffle has left politicians and analysts wondering why Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili -- a close confidante of President Mikheil Saakashvili, and arguably one of the government's most powerful members -- was reassigned to the Ministry of Economic Development. While many hold that the move is a reflection of growing dissatisfaction with the hawkish minister and his rhetoric, other observers see the reshuffle as an attempt to energize Georgia's economic reforms.

In a surprise move November 10, Saakashvili replaced Okruashvili, who has held the post of defense minister for almost two years, in favor of another long-time ally, David Kezerashvili, the 28-year-old head of Georgia's Financial Police.

"Today our real frontline of defense lies in the economy... So after consultations we sent Okruashvili to this line, to make the ministry stronger," Saakashvili said during a late night press conference. Georgia currently faces a potentially crippling Russian embargo on its agricultural products, wines and mineral waters, as well as a blockade by Moscow on all transportation and postal communication between the two neighbors. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].

While the president has publicly praised Okruashvili for his accomplishments, analysts and opposition politicians claim the reappointment was merely a way to save face for a long-time Saakashvili ally. Opposition MPs pointed out that the defense minister's fate was sealed a year ago when he boldly announced he would celebrate New Year's in Tskhinvali, capital of the breakaway Georgian region of South Ossetia, in 2007.

"This [statement] was a huge headache for Saakashvili," commented New Rights Party parliamentarian Manana Nachkebia. "Saakashvili tried to appease the United States and European Union