After the session held by the political council of Georgia’s ruling Georgian Dream Party, leader of the political party Irakli Kobakhidze announced about running in the elections for Prime Minister of Georgia, Georgia News reports.

Gharibashvili currently holds the post of defense minister, and if elected by the parliament, he will become Prime Minister for the second time in his political career.

The ruling party had to elect a candidate for Prime Minister after Giorgi Gakharia surprisingly resigned today and announced his decision during a special briefing amid the tension over the arrest of opposition leader Nika Melia that is in the works. Gakharia stressed that he is resigning due to the discord within the ruling party in regard to execution of the court decision on arrest as a pre-trial measure against Nika Melia.