TBILISI, Georgia — A Georgian billionaire whose coalition won the country's recent parliamentary election has met with the outgoing president and pledged his commitment for Georgia's bid to join NATO.
Bidzina
Ivanishvili discussed the power transition Tuesday with President
Mikhail Saakashvili. Under a constitutional reform to take effect in
October 2013, many of the president’s powers will be transferred to the
prime minister, who is chosen by the parliament.
Ivanishvili, who made his fortune in Russia, previously stressed the need to restore relations with Moscow, which have been severed since the two countries fought a brief war in August 2008.
The
pro-Western course was set by Saakashvili, who remains president for
another year but lost the power to form the government when his party
was defeated in a parliamentary election a week ago.
