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THE GEORGIAN TIMES: PRESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS EMERGE AS SAAKASHVILI PREPARES FOR RESIGNATION
On Monday, November 26, President Mikheil Saakashvili will resign, and the election marathon will launch in Georgia. The candidates of opposition political parties are known, but the platforms of the candidates, including Mikheil Saakahsvili are less clear. However in independent Georgia’s history, this will be the first election where voters will be asked to focus on the programs, slogans and promises of the candidates.
All the candidates state that they can offer a solution to the political and economic crisis as well as economic development plans. Voter Opinions “I’ll go to a meeting with any presidential candidate and learn about their programs. I’ll study their plans and decisions. Then I’ll choose the most acceptable candidate,” states Lali Tskhovrebashvili, 45, a doctor. Lali says she knows the program of Gia Maisashvili, one of the opposition candidates, because Maisashvili visited the research institute where she works.
“The choice will be difficult. I think that each voice will be decisive on January 5. We have no option of making a mistake. I have already decided to vote for the candidate who will offer a program that will not be based on violence and populism like Saakashvili,” states Levan D, 35. He is a businessman who thinks it is high time to vote for a balanced leader who will focus on the development of business, property rights and an independent court system rather that an emotional and populist leader.
“The only thing I know is that I’ll not support Saakashvili. In my opinion everybody understands that the restoration of the Academy of Arts was abolished by Saakashvili, and that social preferences and pension growth are pre-election tricks and nothing more. I support the candidate of a united opposition although I don’t know his program yet. Through nominating Levan Gachechiladze the opposition representatives said that we should not have a president who will put his own interests above the interests of the country or who makes promises and does nothing,”
Tsira Kandelaki, 63, a pensioner who looks after her disabled child and elderly mother says. “I’ll certainly vote for the current president. In these circumstances this is the best way to continue. I think that the opposition will not do any good notwithstanding their programs. The country may fall into chaos,” states Marina L., 37, an IDP from Abkhazia and single mother of two. Presidential candidates and their programs No candidate has submitted any short or long-term programs yet. The majority of presidential candidates declare that they will present their programs when the official date of elections is announced.
They will also officially nominate their candidates. Although their stance on some key issues are somewhat known. The incumbent president has long launched an election campaign with the slogan “Do not stop building.” It is already known that the focus will be on pensions, salaries, budget growth, economic revival, fight against corruption and restoration of territorial integrity as it was in the elections of 2004. Saakashvili has already made new promises, but it is uncertain whether he will manage to fulfill these promises if he is again victorious. The main directions of Saakashvili’s presidential program are reflected by his newly-appointed Prime Minister, Lado Gurgenidze announced on November 22.
“The difference between the rich and the poor has increased and this trend must stop,” Gigi Ugulava, Tbilisi Mayor says. Ugulava explains that each citizen must feel the progress achieved by the country in the last four years. This will probably be the base of Saakashvili’s pre-election campaign. “Our main goal is to overcome the desperate mood. We all must realize that everything that is done now and will be done in the future will reflect on each of us,” Ugulava said. Prime-Minister Lao Gurgenidze declared that in the last four years the economy considerably grew in the country and now the focus must be on social issues.
Another possible candidate, leader of political party Future Government, Gia Maisashvili has already launched the campaign. He was named Mikheil Saakashvili’s rival on January 4, 2004, but Maisashvili left Georgia that time. Rumors are that Saakashvili forced him to leave the country. At that time Saakashvili was not the President, but the country was ruled by him rather than Nino Burjanadze, acting president. Maisashvili is convinced that he will win on January 5, 2008. His campaign slogan will be “A Georgian economy based on contemporary opportunities and knowledge.”
His priorities include serious reforms in economic and education sectors. “I don’t want to win in presidential elections just so I can sit and say that I am a good boy. I want to build the modern state based on national values, our past and traditions. I am a specialist of building such a state.” states Gia Maisashvili. Another opponent for Saakashvili is Shalva Natelashvili, leader of the Labor Party. The slogan of the Labor Party leader is “Georgia without Saakashvili.”“I call on Mikheil Saakashvili to leave the president’s post within 48 hours and not to nominate his candidacy,” declared Natlashvili on November 23, at a special briefing in front of the State Chancellery.
The leader of the Labor Party believes that Saakashvili’s “participation in the presidential elections is offensive to the Georgian people.” According to Natelashvili if he wins, the Labor Party will implement social, economic and education reforms, reduce electricity, natural gas, and water tariffs, design benefits for socially vulnerable people, and adjust the pension and salary minimums. Levan Gachechiladze, the candidate for the united opposition does not talk about his presidential programs. According to the united opposition the main slogan of their candidate is “Georgia without a presidential institute and President Saakashvili.”
They will talk about the details of the program later. The program of Badri Patarkatsishvili is also unknown yet. He openly expressed his wish to run for president. However they say that Patarkatsishvili may not nominate his candidacy at all. Davit Gamkrelidze, leader of the New Rights party, states that he will offer a serious program to the people. “Initially we’ll consider the order of Georgian society on the abolition of the president’s institute. However people should decide it at the referendum. They should choose the form of statehood as well- constitutional monarchy or parliamentary republic,” states Gamkrelidze.
According to Gamkrelidze, he has nominated his candidacy with the responsibility that there are numerous problems in the country including court and media problems. He will present a serious economic program focused on the development of small and medium-size business and solution of employment program. Gamkrelidze plans to focus on the Georgian village. Additionally, he will facilitate court independence and provide human rights standards as well as property rights.
“We’ll be the authorities who will restore justice in the country,” Gamkrelidze states. The Georgian Times Poll Results Last week The Georgian Times conducted a poll about the upcoming presidential elections, asking only a single question: Whom will you vote for on January 5, Mikheil Saakashvili, Badri Patarkatsishvili, someone else, or no one? Because the poll began before the New Rights Party, united opposition, Labor party, and Gia Maisashvili nominated their candidates, the question did not include the names of Shalva Natelashvili, Davit Gamkrelidze, Gia Maisashvili, and others who plan to run. The results showed that of the 337 Tbilisi citizens participating in the poll, 72 respondents support Mikheil Saakashvili’s candidacy, 34 supports Badri Patarkatsishvili, 40 picked another candidate, and 142 people did not answer.
Nino JAPARIDZE
The Georgian Times, November 26, 2007
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