Saakashvili has changed prime ministers, appointing the former ambassador to Turkey to replace Lado Gurgenidze:

Saakashvili cited Mgaloblishvili’s reported skill in attracting Turkish investment to Georgia as among the ambassador’s qualifications for the job, but one political analyst believes that the career diplomat’s appointment could mean that the Georgian government intends to put greater policy emphasis on foreign affairs rather than economic development.

“Georgia’s biggest challenge today lies in the realm of foreign relations, not domestic problems such as the economy, which was the case when Gurgenidze was appointed,” said Tornike Sharashenidze, head of Foreign Relations Programs at Tbilisi’s Georgian Institute of Public Affairs.

This is a curious change, since one might have thought that it would be better on the cusp of a global recession to have a talented economic hand at the head of the government.  Saakashvili’s critics in Georgia believe the frequent changes of ministers are designed to prevent any rivals from acquiring the ability to challenge the president politically.  Opposition figures are predictably dissatisfied:

Tina Khidasheli, one of the leaders of the opposition Republican Party, called the premier reshuffle a show that has been going on for years. “What we’ve seen here for several years is one and the same merry-go-round with essentially the same figures being moved around on the chessboard,” said Khidasheli. “People known for their poor judgment … are still there, largely because of their unwavering loyalty to Saakashvili. As a result, key decisions are made almost unilaterally and there is no room left for alternative thinking.”