Saakashvili's priorities have changed: now he wants to return power to Georgia
Mikheil Saakashvili believes that the Georgian party “United National Movement”, which he founded, should unite with other opposition forces in the country to win the presidential elections and remove the currently ruling “Georgian Dream” from power, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
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He stated this in an address to Georgian supporters, writes the Novosti-Georgia publication.
“Georgia faces a huge danger. Under these conditions, [former Prime Minister of Georgia, billionaire Bidzina] Ivanishvili actually announced a casting for the title of the main opposition force. They jostle and fight for second place in all upcoming elections and are happy with this honorable prize. Sorry, but no need. Our task is to return to power in Georgia, and we must return to power in 2018. How should this be implemented? We must win the presidential elections and, against the backdrop of victory, destroy Ivanishvili’s government,” Saakashvili said.
The politician believes that the scenario he described “is a completely realistic task” because the people of Georgia are disappointed.
“In recent years, Ivanishvili has never been so weak. People completely hated him. The people understand everything. All parts of society opened their eyes, everyone saw the difference between what was and what he broke and destroyed. The most important thing is that everyone sees that we are making positive progress and we are the only force that can lead the country out of this disaster. That is why we must now prepare for the presidential campaign. Through the primaries, all unselling opposition forces together must determine a worthy candidate,” he said.
Saakashvili also noted that new faces, especially young people, should be involved in the election campaign.
“Our strength did not sell out, did not collapse and was preserved, despite enormous pressure and despite the fact that this was Ivanishvili’s cherished dream. Now we owe Georgia to the Georgian people,” the ex-president added.
The last direct presidential elections will take place in Georgia in the fall of 2018. There are eight months left before the elections, and the election campaign will begin in May.
To date, the former speaker of the Georgian parliament, leader of the opposition party “Democratic Movement” Nino Burjanadze, Labor leader Shalva Natelashvili, as well as the current head of state Giorgi Margvelashvili have expressed their desire to take part in the presidential elections. Georgian Dream and the parliamentary opposition have not yet presented candidates.
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