Georgia has a new prime minister. Grigol Mgaloblishvili resigned on 31 January. Eurasia Insight reports that he cited health problems as the reason for his departure. Apparently, he has been receiving treatment in Germany. In a televised address President Mikheil Saakashvili said that “The country needs a cabinet and a prime minister capable of working round-the-clock”. There had been reports of problems between the president and PM.

Mgaloblishvili was appointed on 1 November 2008. There was a post here. Mgaloblishvili has been replaced by the former Finance Minister Nika Gilauri. Gilauri is the fifth prime minister since President Saakashvili came to power in January 2004.

A few days before Mgaloblishvili’s departure there were quite large demonstrations by the opposition calling for Saakashvili’s departure. Given the president was only re-elected in January last year, there is little chance of this, unless people power has its way.

Freedom House stripped Georgia of its status as an electoral democracy in its 2009 report. Last year’s presidential and parliamentary elections were not considered free and fair.