Parliament posts filled in second session

In its second session since last month’s elections, parliament approved the appointment of 13 ruling party MPs as committee chairs yesterday.

Lasha Zhvania, the former ambassador to Israel, became chairman of the foreign relations committee. Davit Darchiashvili will chair the European integration committee.

Darchiashvili formerly directed the George Soros-backed Open Society Institute Georgia.

Influential ruling party MP Givi Targamadze retained chairmanship of the defense and security committee, and Khatuna Gogorishvili kept her post as chair of the committee on procedural issues.

Giorgi Asanidze, a former weightlifter, will chair a new committee for sports and youth issues.

Another new committee, for reintegration and diaspora issues, will be chaired by political newcomer Nugzar Tsiklauri.

Two majority MPs were also elected as vice-speakers of parliament: Anzor Bolkvadze and Mikheil Machavariani, who held the same post in the previous parliament.