Georgy Kalatozishvili, Tbilisi. Exclusively to VK
After appointment of Vano Merabishvili to the Premier position, the election struggle in Georgia stepped into a new stage. The main rivals are the ruling party and the opposition presented by the coalition Georgian Dream of Bidzina Ivanishvili. They began publication and popularization of their socio-economic programs. This process narrowed to populist election promises. Billionaire Ivanishvili promised at meetings in Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Ozurgeti, and Mtskheti that he would found a $1 billion fund for “support of agriculture,” i.e. giving beneficial credits and subsidiaries to agricultural enterprises.
Ivanishvili didn’t specify whether we would give money for that from its own finances (his capital is estimated in almost $6 billion) or the state budget. Georgian Dream gave so named prospects urged its supporters to write their cherished dreams there. The action turned into a ridiculous situation when residents of Kutaisi wrote in a prospect “dream” about household appliances. One local activist told journalists that the opposition is ready to fulfill dreams of any Georgian if it is equal to $600. “If somebody dreams about a fridge or a washing machine – no problem, he should write it in a prospect,” Mikhail Meskhi said and appeared behind bars for the attempt of bribing electorate.
The party of power, United National Movement of Mikhail Saakashvili and Vano Merabishvili decided to “surpass” the billionaire’s election program by no-less generous promises. If Georgian Dream promises to allocate $1 billion for agriculture, Vano Merabishvili promised to spend $4 billion for it. Moreover, he said that the government would insure health of all citizens and give all families a four-year voucher equal to 1000 lari. Money could be spent for school text books, medicines, community charges, and for tractor fuel and fertilizers in villages. It seems 1000 lari for four years is not a big deal. But it is a present! Of course Georgian “Libertarianists ” criticized the governmental program and called it absolutely populist and even communist. “You encourage social dependency! Why does the state pay money those who don’t need it?!” one of the opposition PMs asked Merabishvili during parliamentary hearings.
“If you don’t need the voucher, be smart and kind and give it to a poor relative or a neighbor,” Premier responded. It is true that the Georgian authorities have many times used such a form of encouraging “social solidarity.” But in previous cases it was about $20-30. Research showed that due to local traditions of family solidarity the vouchers were given to those who need them in most cases. However, it is doubtful whether people do the same thing, if the sum is much bigger.
The program of Mirabishvili’s government is a cunning populist document. Its implementation will not lead to return to socialism. For example, Merabishvili speaks not about subsidiaries for agriculture, but about “establishing of new 500 enterprises,” he doesn’t mention “beneficial credits.” Therefore, he might mean attraction of investments by giving investors state land for free.
Premier promised to spend about $25 billion in four years for health care system and new working places, even though the country’s budget is only $8 billion this year. It appeared that Premier meant the consolidated budget for four years which can reach $40 billion, if budgets of 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016 are summed up.
There is no cheating, but figures are amazing. 40 billion! Many people are ready to believe the reformers team, as citizens concern with social problems first of all.
