2020-11-12
Assessment of the political process is becoming more and more second-rated nowadays. Orders made by our citizens and population are direct to oblige us to quickly find an efficient solution to the present political situation. It was stated by Giorgi Gakharia, Prime Minister of Georgia at the Executive Government Meeting today.
According to the Head of Government of Georgia, it is an order of the citizens and population of the country.
"I am confident that the political spectrum fully shares this. Irrespective of the fact that I understand it well that certain destructive steps and actions will be continued, though all of us should agree that such destructive steps and actions will not and cannot be supported by our citizens, of course. It became apparent on October 31, when the citizens of Georgia equipped 9 political powers with a mandate to represent them in the supreme legislative body of the country - at the Parliament of Georgia - and this mandate was and is a mandate of responsibility. It is a responsibility towards the country and its future. Everyone should remember when this decision was made by the citizens of Georgia. They decided so in the midst of a wide scale war in the region, when the pandemic was gearing more force, when the global economic crisis was becoming deeper and all of that was a targeted message to each politician and political power to jointly care for the country and jointly find a solution to the crisis in these challenging times" stated Giorgi Gakharia.
According to the Prime Minister of Georgia, this is exactly the main mandate of responsibility, which 9 political powers were equipped with by the citizens of Georgia.
"We all understand it well that what we need most of all today is the sustainable political process to make sure that the ambitious plan of Georgia - European plan - gets materialized and to continue executing this plan. It is the most important that the election and post-election process should serve the need of further democratization of Georgia. Every power - ruling or opposition - all of us should understand that the mandate given to us by the citizens of Georgia was primarily to jointly care for the country and, of course, dialogue has no alternative. It is a responsibility of each political power and this is a responsibility in challenging times, when every effort should be joined to cope with the pandemic, economic crisis and - what is most important - continue steering our country towards Europe and its Euro-Atlantic future in the most efficient and effective manner, as our citizens told us that democratic processes at large and democratically elected parliament in particular is the place where the fate of the country should be decided, rather than street rallies. I am confident that the political spectrum understands it very well and I am sure that everyone will have enough responsibility to conceptualize this message conveyed by our citizens and to properly translate them into concrete steps" stated Giorgi Gakharia.
Also, the Prime Minister of Georgia focused on the global epidemic picture and noted that the situation is getting heavier throughout the world. Apparently, intensity of the expected second wave was not projected with high precision.
According to the Head of Government of Georgia, the number of lockdowns is increasing in Europe at a greater rate, similar to the number of infected people. Even solid economic and strong healthcare systems find it hard to cope with the infection evolving at such a massive scale.
"You may well be aware that the strategy pursued by us is of adaptation and localised restrictions. Of course, we continue doing all that, but each citizen of Georgia should understand that the healthcare system is not unlimited in terms of technical medical and human resources. That is why, we should all do our best to make sure that healthcare services are primarily used for those who need them most of all - our elderly, people with chronic diseases, etc. Healthcare system should be able to operate more effectively. We should understand it well that management of the pandemic in line with new principles of clinical management at home, COVID Hotels and hospitals is the only solution with which we should all help the healthcare system by directing the main focus to our citizens, who need the medical care round the clock most of all" stated the Prime Minister of Georgia.
The Head of Government of Georgia noted that work is in progress on Phase Four of the Post-Crisis Plan, which will be specifically aimed at the social assistance of citizens and business support.
"Government of Georgia declared from the very first day of the economic crisis that its guiding principle was a rational distribution of resources, predominantly for the sustainability of businesses, jobs and social security of citizens. We have already started work on Phase Four, which will be directly aimed at concrete social assistance of our citizens, along with business support" stated Giorgi Gakharia.
According to the Prime Minister of Georgia, meetings will be held in the coming days with businesses and largest employers to unite efforts and find a solution, which will assist the economy in maintaining a potential of further growth and jobs to a greatest extent.
"These are several already well proven mechanisms, which have worked well at previous stages in terms of citizen support, who lost their jobs and in terms of targeted social security for the most vulnerable households and in terms of tax concessions for the most affected businesses. We are now modernising all of these initiatives to make sure that meetings can be held in the nearest future with sectoral businesses and largest employers to unite efforts and find the solution empowering our economy on the one hand and maintaining the potential of further growth thereby taking maximum care for the maintenance of jobs, on the other hand. Specialized group has been created and it engages the economic team of the Government of Georgia, as well as the national bank and our international partners. Outcome and output of this group will be known to everyone in the nearest future. It will be Phase Four of the support package designed by the Government of Georgia for the citizens and businesses" noted Giorgi Gakharia.
As noted by the Prime Minister of Georgia, authorities need to do everything possible in the post-crisis economy to reach a double-digit indicator of economic growth in Georgia in the nearest future.
"We held a balance between healthcare, human life and economic viability. We continue this path as the post-crisis economic recovery prospect is the most important to maintain in our economy. We have had close interaction and negotiations with the IMF in recent days and they praise our plan of structural reforms, which we intend to carry out from 2021 to make sure that the economy of Georgia recovers efficiently and continues its advancement effectively. Also, assessments make it clear that with structural reforms that we carry out and intend to continue from 2021 will make Georgia have the quickest economic growth, though it is not sufficient of course, especially in the post-crisis economy. We should do our best to reach a double-digit indicator of economic growth in the coming years in Georgia. It is an essential precondition for our European ambitions to be carried out in the quickest manner" stated Giorgi Gakharia.
At the close of the discussion on the topic, the Head of Government of Georgia commented on the football game scheduled today and wished success to the Georgian team.
"Today we have a most significant event in sports life. It is a milestone game. Unfortunately, the epidemic has led to the absence of a few of our active lead players from the game field. Unfortunately, we will not be able to support our footballers at the stadium, though I am still confident that we will all be together and it will be a victory of the whole Georgia. I want to wish success to our footballers and express confidence that we will all celebrate a victory tonight" stated the Prime Minister of Georgia.
Press Service of the Government Administration