Saakashvili's Georgia "has no prospects," rival says
KUTAISI, Georgia. June 10 (Interfax) - Controversial billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, who wants to run for president of Georgia, said the country "has no prospects" while incumbent President Mikheil Saakashvili remains in office and promised democratic reforms, higher pensions and accessible health care if he took power.
"A country where politics and business are in the hands of one person - Mikheil Saakashvili - has no prospects," Ivanishvili, leader of the Georgian Dream party, told a rally in Kutaisi on Sunday, an Interfax correspondent reported from the scene.
Georgian Dream put the turnout at the meeting at more than 20,000 while the police said a maximum of 3,000 people were present.
"We will definitely come to power and establish order and justice. We will liberate the judiciary and police from political pressure from the government. Saakashvili and his entourage are spending money that has been provided for Georgia by partner countries after the war of August 2008. It is the people's money," Ivanishvili said.
He promised that if he took power there would be a very favorable environment for business and "elitist corruption will be eradicated." He also vowed to raise pensions to the national minimum subsistence level and to do his best to make high-standard health care accessible to everyone.
"We will set up a fund of 1 billion lari [$617 million] for agricultural development," he said.
