Rustavi 2 TV reported on January 16 that at least four ministers were expected to lose their portfolios in the new cabinet planned to be unveiled after Mikheil Saakashvili’s inauguration on January 20.

The television station suggested that Giorgi Arveladze, the economy minister; Davit Tkeshelashvili, the minister for healthcare and social welfare; Kakha Bendukidze, the state minister for economic reforms, and Goka Gabashvili, the minister for sports and culture, were likely to lose their current positions.

Rustavi 2 also suggested that Davit Bakradze, the state minister in charge of conflict resolution, would be made Foreign Minister, replacing Gela Bezhuashvili.

It also said that Kakha Lomaia, the secretary of the National Security Council, while retaining his position for now, would be given a diplomatic posting after the parliamentary elections.