Official name

Georgia

Form of state

Georgia was an independent republic between 1918 and 1921, but in 1922 it was incorporated into the Soviet Union, from which it declared its independence in April 1991. The Abkhaz and South Ossetian autonomous territories, created in 1922, have both declared their independence from Georgia. Russia recognised the independence of the two territories in August 2008. A new constitution was approved in Georgia in August 1995, which reinforced the presidential-democratic form of government, providing for a strong executive branch and a unicameral, 235-seat parliament. A constitutional court met for the first time in late 1996. The constitution does not address the status of Abkhazia or South Ossetia, but grants autonomous status to Adjara, another separatist region until its reintegration in May 2004

National legislature

The Parliament of Georgia; from 2008, with 150 members: 75 elected by party list and 75 by single-member districts

National elections

January 5th 2008 (presidential); May 21st 2008 (legislative); next elections 2012 (parliamentary) and 2013 (presidential)

National government

The president appoints the cabinet, subject to individual approval by the legislature

Head of state

President, currently Mikheil Saakashvili

Main political parties

United National Movement (UNM); New Rights; Our Georgia-Free Democrats; the Republican Party; Georgia's Way; Labour Party; Conservative Party; Christian Democratic Movement; People's Party; Democratic Movement-United Georgia; Movement for Fair Georgia; National Forum; Freedom Party; Georgian Party

Council of ministers

President: Mikheil Saakashvili

Prime minister: Nika Gilauri

First deputy prime minister & state minister for regional policies & infrastructure: Ramaz Nikolaishvili

Deputy prime minister & state minister for Euro-Atlantic integration: Giorgi Baramidze

Deputy prime minister & state minister for reintegration: Eka Tkeshelashvili

Chair of parliament: David Bakradze

Head of the presidential administration: Davit Tkeshelashvili

Key ministers

Agriculture & food: Bakur Kvezereli

Culture: Nika Rurua

Defence: Bacho Akhalaia

Economic development: Vera Kobalia

Education & science: Dimitri Shashkin

Energy: Aleksander Khetaguri

Environment: Goga Khachidze

Finance: Kakha Baindurashvili

Foreign affairs: Grigol Vashadze

Internal affairs: Vano Merabishvili

Justice: Zurab Adeishvili

Labour, health & social welfare: Andria Urushadze

Central bank president

Giorgi Kadagidze