Kyiv Post: Saakashvili’s Return to Ukrainian Government Stalls

An Influential Ukrainian media outlet Kyiv Post issued an article, written by Oleg Sukhov, about Saakashvili’s latest ventures to solidify a position among Zelensky’s government. Yet, the Verkhovna Rada (the Ukrainian Parliament) flopped to gather sufficient votes for Saakashvili’s appointment on the offered position as Deputy PM, additionally, the Rada did not even consider the issue at its assemblies on April 24 and April 30.

Ukrainian political analyst Volodymyr Fesenko said to the Kyiv Post “The main motive [behind Saakashvili appointment] was to strengthen the government. He is a heavyweight, Zelensky wanted Saakashvili as an energizer and catalyst.”

The noteworthy move in the inner circles of Kyiv’s ruling class was that even Zelensky’s own party opposed Saakashvili’s candidacy. Powerbrokers in Ukraine fear that Saakashvili might soon counter the current regime, as he did with Zelensky’s predecessor Petro Poroshenko.

Nevertheless, Zelensky didn’t renounce the prospect to find a post for Saakashvili. One week ago, head of Zelensky’s faction in Rada, David Arakhamia said that Saakashvili was presented with another position in the government. Most likely it will be a position that does not need parliamentary approval. The representative said he couldn’t disclose which particular position it was. Although, political analysts speculate that the former Georgian president may be selected as an advisor to Zelensky or to an acting minister.

On April 25, Saakashvili made a speech on a Ukrainian TV channel where he said: “The situation in the country is crossing a critical threshold. Not just a crisis, a whole storm or tsunami, is coming to Ukraine. Its very existence is under threat.”

Saakashvili ritualistically slammed corrupt bureaucrats and politicians who only “think this is business as usual, […] A storm is coming, and it’s not the right time to bask in the sun. Either Ukraine will survive with them or without them.”

The sole way to manage the economic crisis is through ‘deregulation and tax cuts’, which will relieve businesses and survive, right-leaning Saakashvili affirmed.

“The oligarchic economic system doesn’t work anymore,” he added, “Either we will save small and medium-sized businesses or Ukraine will have no future. Jobs are created by (economic) freedom and the absence of corruption. We should view this as a great challenge and a great opportunity and re-think the structure of the Ukrainian state. What has been done over the past 30 years doesn’t work.”

By B.Alexishvili

Source: kyivpost.com

Read the full article here

Photo by AFP