Georgia without poverty: an election pledge
By M. Alkhazashvili
(Translated by Diana Dundua)
(Translated by Diana Dundua)
Thursday, December 13
“Georgia without poverty!” is ruling party candidate Mikheil Saakashvili’s main campaign slogan, his spokesman Davit Bakradze, State Minister for Conflict Resolution, announced on December 11.
Bakradze said that four years ago Saakashvili campaigned under such slogans as “Georgia without [then-president] Shevardnadze!”, “Georgia without [former ruler Adjara] Aslan Abashidze!”, “Georgia without an energy supply problem!”, “Georgia without corruption!” and “Georgia without thieves-in-law!” all of which, he said, the ruling party leader subsequently delivered to the people.
“Now Saakashvili promises Georgians that if he wins, on January 5 he will eradicate poverty in the country,” Bakradze added.
The government recently began implementing a series of programs aimed at tackling Georgia’s social problems, including pension hikes, increases in teachers’ salaries and a state-funded apprenticeship program.
New Rights presidential candidate Davit Gamkrelidze has criticized the initiatives for being unrealistic.
“Economist have put the estimated overall cost of these programs at GEL 11 billion [about USD 6.8 billion],” Gamkrelidze claimed, adding that this is over twice Georgia’s entire 2008 draft budget.
“Now, the administration does not have much choice: either it will have to print more money to fund its promised social initiative, which will cause massive inflation, or it will deceive society again,” Gamkrelidze explained.
Bakradze said that four years ago Saakashvili campaigned under such slogans as “Georgia without [then-president] Shevardnadze!”, “Georgia without [former ruler Adjara] Aslan Abashidze!”, “Georgia without an energy supply problem!”, “Georgia without corruption!” and “Georgia without thieves-in-law!” all of which, he said, the ruling party leader subsequently delivered to the people.
“Now Saakashvili promises Georgians that if he wins, on January 5 he will eradicate poverty in the country,” Bakradze added.
The government recently began implementing a series of programs aimed at tackling Georgia’s social problems, including pension hikes, increases in teachers’ salaries and a state-funded apprenticeship program.
New Rights presidential candidate Davit Gamkrelidze has criticized the initiatives for being unrealistic.
“Economist have put the estimated overall cost of these programs at GEL 11 billion [about USD 6.8 billion],” Gamkrelidze claimed, adding that this is over twice Georgia’s entire 2008 draft budget.
“Now, the administration does not have much choice: either it will have to print more money to fund its promised social initiative, which will cause massive inflation, or it will deceive society again,” Gamkrelidze explained.