Labor Party leader and presidential candidate Shalva Natelashvili said he would, if elected, offer the position of Prime Minister to a tycoon, Bidzina (Boris) Ivanishvili.

Natelashvili, however, did not say whether Ivanishvili had agreed to accept such a hypothetical offer. Ivanishvili, known for his publicity shyness, is not expected to make a comment.

According to Forbes’ 2007 list of the world's billionaires, Ivanishvili is ranked 167th with USD 4.7 billion. Ivanishvili is famous in Georgia for his charitable activities, but unlike fellow tycoon Badri Patarkatsishvili, he has never been involved in politics, or affiliated with any political party. Ivanishvili lives with his family in the village of Chorvila in the Imereti region, where he was born. 

“I offer the prime minister’s position to a famous philanthropist, Bidzina Ivanishvili,” Natelashvili said at a press conference on January 3. “We ask Mr. Ivanishvili to begin consultations with all opposition political parties on the creation of a national coalition government. We think that our nominee is absolutely acceptable to all citizens”

Natelashvili’s remarks are in sharp contrast with his previous statements made about Ivanishvili in September, 2006, when he criticized Ivanishvili for, as he put it, financing “Saakashvili and his dirty gang.”

Natelashvili also said that he planned to set up a commission on constitutional reforms to abolish the presidency in Georgia. He said MP Gia Meparishvili, who served as General Prosecutor of Georgia during ex-President Eduard Shevardnadze’s presidency, would chair the commission. MP Meparishvili has confirmed his willingness to do so.