TBILISI, Georgia, Oct. 16 (UPI) -- The leader of the Georgian Dream slate, winner of Oct. 1 parliamentary elections, announced his list of candidates for a new government in Georgia.
Georgian Dream leader Bidzina Ivanishvili announced Tuesday his final list of candidates for a new Cabinet, including defense minister and foreign minister, Russia's state-run news agency RIA Novosti reports. Many candidates named Monday were from the administration of former President Eduard Shevardnadze, ousted in the country's Rose Revolution in 2004.
Ivanishvili's slate takes 83 of the 150 seats in the Georgian Parliament. The United National Movement of President Mikheil Saakashvili takes the remaining 67 seats.
Saakashvili, accused of monopolizing power, was criticized for going to war with Russia in 2008 over the disputed territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia and cutting diplomatic ties to Moscow.
NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen had said the alliance was ready to assist Georgia in the security sector, adding he was looking forward to a strong relationship with the new government in Tbilisi.
Georgia's government will shift to a parliamentary system after another round of elections next year.
