TBILISI (Itar-Tass) -- Mikhail Saakashvili will not run for the presidency any more, but does not intend to bow out now. Speaking on Sunday at a government meeting, dealing with social and economic development of the country, he said that “the term his powers at the presidential post expires early in 2013”.

Saakashvili noted that during the second and last term of his stay at the presidential post, he “will continue implementing large-scale programs for social and economic development, will realize the strategy of the country’s protection from possible aftermaths of the world economic crisis as well as a program, aimed at further economic growth”.
According to the Constitution, the Georgian president is elected for a term of five years. Incidentally, the president may hold the top post only two terms. Saakashvili was elected as president in January 2004 for the first time. In November, he resigned and fixed the early elections on January 5 of the current year when he again carried the elections.