Presidential TV Debate: Candidates Future Plans If Victorious
On October 25, the presidential candidates Salome Zurabishvili, David Bakradze and Grigol Vashadze participated in a televised live debate hosted by the Georgian Public Broadcaster.
Three days before the elections, candidates voiced the priorities they would like to achieve if victorious on Sunday.
Salome Zurabishvili
Independent candidate supported by Georgian Dream, Salome Zurabishvili is tipped to win on October 28. “I say that the president will be the representative of the society and work for social problems,” she said. She aims to bring about social change by ending the Soviet legacy and achieving Euro-Atlantic integration. She hopes this will end the polarisation in Georgia which she sees to be destructive for the country.
She believes reforms needed for economic development should be guided by the needs of different regions in Georgia.
If Zurabishvili is victorious on Sunday, she would be Georgia’s first female President.
Grigol Vashadze
Candidate for UNM, Vashadze believes in a west-leaning Government. “We should achieve a point where the government will be in the hands of national, western-oriented professionals,” he said during the debate.
This should be achieved by using the instruments Georgia already has, such as the Association Agreement and DCFTA, rather than waiting for EU membership. He believes Georgia can learn from Brexit and the expectation of membership in the Balkan countries.
Vashadze outlined his plans for economic prosperity by lessening bureaucracy in the public sector. He believes reducing costs could enable an increase in the monthly pensions allowance to 400 GEL (currently 160 GEL) and teachers salaries to 1000 GEL.
David Bakradze
David Bakradze, the candidate for European Georgia, believes the only way to further develop is by defeating the current GD coalition. He criticized Zurabishvili for lacking a sound vision and concrete plan for the future of Georgia.
“The country needs to go forwards, Georgia needs changes and these changes should be peaceful, empty of revenge,” he said.
He believes joining the EU and NATO is essential for Georgian sovereignty. “The faster we join the EU and NATO, the more Russia will be obliged to recognize that Georgia is a neighbor country and not a territory it wants to control.”
Joining the EU and NATO would boost economic development as Georgia would become a safer investment. “More foreign investment will create more workplaces and increase prosperity. One of the major task for the President should be communication with the investors to attract them to Georgia,” he added.
The elections take place on October 28. Results will be released the following day.
By Amy Jones
Photo: 1TV.GE