Move over, Zelensky: Saakashvili is committed to giving Ukraine a Georgian leap
Ex-President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili still considers ex-President Petro Poroshenko a corrupt official and a thief, and if the Verkhovna Rada approves his candidacy for the post of Deputy Prime Minister, he sees himself as a progressive reformer in the midst of Ukraine plunged into crisis and poverty.
He stated this in an interview with DW in Russian, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
“I think the president took a decisive step, he showed courage when he proposed this. I didn’t think for a long time, because I think that now the situation in the country is critical, we are now only at the beginning of a very big crisis. We have been communicating with Zelensky for many months, we find almost one hundred percent understanding on all issues, and plus the fact that I want to support him...
Now it was necessary to agree to this proposal, because a big crisis is just beginning, the Ukrainian economy could lose 10 percent of GDP, which means that millions of Ukrainians will be left without work, and this process has already begun.
A lot of people will find themselves in such a situation that they will begin to protest. Moreover, the real incomes of Ukrainians will be reduced by 20-30 percent, and maybe more.
We are now having very difficult negotiations with the IMF, so I want to say that reforms are required in this situation. A crisis is a great challenge, but also an opportunity that needs to be used correctly. At one time, I brought Georgia out of the economic crisis with minimal losses for the country. Maybe it will work now. Yes, these are different situations, but I have work experience,” Saakashvili said.
“Why have you decided to return again now, since the situation with corruption in Ukraine has not improved much?” – asked the journalist.
“Because I believe that Poroshenko was personally part of systemic corruption and led it. I am absolutely convinced that President Zelensky has nothing to do with corruption and will not have anything to do with it; he is personally against this system. And now the question is being decided: either he will overcome this system, or the system will destroy him and all these new beginnings with which Ukrainians pin their hopes for the future,” the ex-president answered.
“Aren’t you afraid to quarrel with Zelensky, like you did with Poroshenko?” – asked the journalist.
“No, because he is not a thief. Unfortunately, Poroshenko - I know that he was inclined, he loved money, I had big problems with Poroshenko about this. There will be no such problems with Zelensky,” Saakashvili is sure.
As PolitNavigator reported, on Friday, Verkhovna Rada deputies did not risk voting for Saakashvili's candidacy.
Move over , Zelensky: Saakashvili is giving Ukraine a Georgian leap forward.