President Saakashvili has compared PM Ivanishvili's naming of Giorgi Margvelashvili as GD's presidential candidate to the Roman Emperor Caligula’s naming of his horse to the senate and also suggested that the PM might change his decision about candidacy before the presidential elections in October.

"I will say nothing specifically about this candidacy [of Margvelashvili], but generally speaking, when the Roman Emperor decided to demonstrate his dominance over the Roman society, he appointed his horse to the senate," Saakashvili told journalists in Poti where he attended opening of a new Orthodox church.

"Our society is a force to be reckoned with and our society deserves to be respected and treated with dignity," Saakashvili said. "As far as concrete candidates are concerned, the Prime Minister often changes him mind and I really do not rule out that he may change his mind about this candidacy as several months are still remaining before the elections."

When asked after announcing GD's presidential candidate on May 11 if it was final decision, PM Ivanishvili responded that decision about Margvelashvili's candidate would not be revised.