Georgy Kalatozishvili, Tbilisi. Exclusively to Vestnik Kavkaza
The budget is an index of the effectiveness of any government. It reflects the priorities, directions, and values which the authorities try to promote in the country. Georgia’s budget for 2014 is absolutely social in the post-Soviet interpretation of the term, i.e. main expenditures for settlement of social problems instead of fulfillment major projects and investments into development.
A frequently asked question in Georgia (and abroad): “What is the difference between the new and the old authorities? What has changed after Saakashvili’s resignation and Bidzina Ivanishvili’s coming to power?” The budget items answer the question clearly. Instead of construction of new “houses of justice” or building “a dream city” of Lazika on the Black Sea shore, the state effected insurance on all citizens. “It is very positive. Now nobody fears in Georgia that if a family member gets ill and surgery is needed, a person will have to sell his house,” political scientist Nana Devdariani told Vestnik Kavkaza.
Of course it is a big deal, moreover, considering local peculiarities. One of typical features of the Georgian society is the absence of the tradition to save money in case of illness. The Georgians save for the weddings of their children, for burials, but not for a possible surgery. Such a “tradition” used to lead to many tragedies and family bankruptcies. Therefore, the general state insurance is very useful. However, it should be noted that it began to be launched under the former authorities, but Georgian Dream extended opportunities for getting free medical service, and it is an advantage of the new government.
Meanwhile, social problems exist not only in the sphere of healthcare. Moreover, medical insurance is not an emergency. The main problem is unemployment. People in Georgia call it “the curse diluting the nation.” According to a firm view which was intensively cultivated in the past years, “employment is the best social security.” It is thought that an employed person can provide children with education, support parents and deal with health problems without the state, i.e. he is able to solve social problems of the family by himself.
From this point of view, Bidzina Ivanishvili and Irakly Garibashvili have nothing to write home about. Furthermore, in 2013 the unemployment rate grew in the country: tens of thousands lost their jobs because of cancellation of state investments and weakening of economic intensiveness. About half of the population still lives below the poverty line.
At the same time, the majority of citizens voted for Georgian Dream, hoping for better living conditions. Social diseases, unemployment (rather than problems with democracy and human rights) were the main reason for Mikhail Saakashvili and his United National Movement’s defeat at the elections on October 1st, 2012.
If the new government doesn’t learn the lesson, no association agreements with the EU or empty promises will help it to maintain last year's popularity for even several months.
