United National Movement [UNM] publishes the November 23, 11-point manifesto of Mikheil Saakashivili and the party: “Russian oligarch or Georgia - total attack on the system”.
“For more than 33 years, the Georgian people chose freedom instead of the chains of Soviet heritage. The united and strong Georgian people unanimously demanded a better future, dignified life and real freedom.
Freedom, even gained once, requires constant protection, caution, and expansion. If freedom does not grow, then it is curtailed, because there is no static state for it.
In the 32-year period of Georgia’s independence, the UNM has existed for 22 years, which makes it one of the most experienced political parties. We, the UNM, served the Georgian people in the role of the government in 2003-2012, and since 2012, we have been serving as the opposition - we are the voice of their positions and the guardian of democracy. It is a fact that Georgian society has accumulated a lot of experience with politics and politicians.
The Georgian people know what they want and demand changes, both towards the government and the opposition. Just like freedom, the ways of the freedom fighters cannot be static and must adapt to the new times. It"s time for the UNM to launch a new policy based on the old foundation, with which we came to power and with the values with which we were able to create all those good things and processes that are still unshakable and strengthen the Georgian people"s striving for betterment. It is time for the Georgian society to unite again for a better future, and we acknowledge that the UNM has its own unique role to play in this matter.
This document represents the manifesto of the UNM, which reflects the party"s principles, political vision and ideology. The manifesto reveals what the party wants and how it intends to achieve it. It represents a guarantee, a promise given to the Georgian people and general principles by which the party is guided and will be guided to fulfill the set tasks. At the same time, the manifesto is a declaration of the unity of the party, which should become a tool for promoting consistent and progressive internal democratic processes.
Due to the fact that the Georgian nation is a unity of people with a multi-ethnic, strong regional cultural individualism and a high degree of internal freedom, the Georgian people are fair and essentially European, and the Georgian culture and values are part of the culture of the big European family.
The UNM together with its partners is involved in saving Georgian statehood and is building a state where:
1. The ideology of the “Rose Revolution” is based on the boundless belief in the strength and fighting ability of the Georgian people and the steadfastness of the European course.
2. Each person respects the rights and freedoms of others. Freedom is the source of national strength. Both parties and governments are instruments of society to achieve prosperity and security for each citizen, not the other way around.
3. The state works for all the people, not a privileged few. Corruption and nepotism will be replaced by meritocracy, i.e., the result is achieved by hard work and talent. Young people will be able to develop their own careers and succeed in their homeland, and each person’s position, voice and destiny will be of decisive importance.
4. Equal rights, equal justice and equal opportunities should be available to everyone, regardless of ethnicity, race, creed, age or gender.
5. Any form of oligarchy is an enemy of the Georgian state and the well-being of its citizens. The government in Georgia has been hijacked by a Russian oligarch, who is destroying the natural structure of the nation, is planning to replace the Georgian fighting spirit with the spirit of helplessness and slavery. If we don’t get rid of it now, Georgia may disappear, so we will launch a total attack on the system.
6. Georgia’s development path goes through the progress of all regions.
7. Restoring territorial integrity is the main goal of our state.
8. The state will not allow the uncontrolled influx of migrants and will create conditions for the return of Georgians to their homeland, including ensuring the active participation of Georgians living abroad in the political process.
9. United National Movement will carry out the necessary state policy for rapid and drastic improvement of the demographic situation.
10. We must ensure that no generation feels left out. For this, pensioners, for decades, should be given the opportunity to live decently with a good pension or, if they decide with work, so that they are not in the grip of monopolistic debt. At the same time, future generations will be given the opportunity to receive a real European education at all levels, without political interference and manipulation.
11. All party decisions are based on the direct involvement of party members. The drawing up of all party bodies and electoral lists, as well as the approval of the candidacies of government members, must be done through the voting of party members.
By signing the said manifesto:
The members of the UNM are working together to achieve the main goal - to liberate our country from the vicious system of the only oligarch and the only informal government in Georgia.
The active involvement of the founder of the UNM, the leader of the “Rose Revolution”, the reformer president of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili, binds and strengthens the party.
The UNM was, is and will be open to such internal party responsible discussions, which are based on mutual respect, aimed at strengthening the party and whose purpose is not to attack the party and its governing bodies and weaken them.
We agree that the UNM has a fully legitimate chairman, general secretary, secretariat, political council and district organizations, elected through democratic and transparent elections with the broad involvement of its members.
The UNM, under the leadership of Mikheil Saakashvili and governing bodies of wide legitimacy, is preparing to win the 2024 parliamentary elections, which are crucial for Georgia.
We also fully welcome the ongoing, healthy, lively process in the party body, as a result of which our old and new comrades, in compliance with the above-mentioned principles of party functioning, will distribute more responsibilities, both in the political council and in other parts of the party’s governance.
By signing this manifesto, we confirm that our activities will be directed towards intra-party unity and consolidation of forces”, - reads the manifesto.