Categories
Journalistic Survey
Articles
Reportage
Analitic
Photo Reportage
Exclusive
Interview
Foreign Media about Georgia
Editorial
Position
Reader's opinion
Blog
Themes
Children's Rights
Women's Rights
Justice
Refugees/IDPs
Minorities
Media
Army
Health
Corruption
Elections
Education
Penitentiary
Religion
Others

Fear Eats the Soul – Mythological and Destroyed Saakashvili

April 6, 2010
Davit Bukhrikidze, “Main Info”

His positive noise turned into a weak “thunder”; his wish to build a new country has turned into a faded PR technology; his endless promises – into broken promises; energetic economical reforms – into depression of impoverished, unemployed and bank debtors… and finally, the oath made at the grave of the King Davit Agmashenebeli – to integrate Georgia “from Nikopsia to Darubandi” – has turned into the nightmare of passportization process in Akhalgori district. Nevertheless, almost prickle-less Rose Revolution predicted a huge success, a peaceful governance and a perfect future for him…

Revolutionary myth created about the president Saakashvili and the reality destroyed by his revolution.

A high percentage of votes in the presidential elections in 2004, a constitutional majority in the parliament, and an overwhelming trust of the citizens, construction optimism and support of the governmental branches did bad job for Saakashvili. Triumph soon was changed into self-confidence. Initially he changed the constitution according to his own wish and restricted the power of parliament members though they already obeyed him. The reduction of the judiciary independence and influence created initially simple, but later huge problems which were not highlighted by subdued media sources; or  were avoided because of obvious conflicts with the government.

In February of 2005, the official reasons of the death of his co-revolutionist and co-fighter, late Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania, could neither calm his opponents and nor persuade the people. Ignoring the opposition parties and declaring them to be the enemies became a reason of his separation from the society. Demonstrations of the November 2007 and the raid of the oppositionist TV-Company Imedi were the culmination of everything. The separation lines between the governing elite and the society reached a dangerous level; so, changes were urgently necessary.

The second presidential term which is full of nervousness and political passion started with the endless quarrel with the opposition who remained in the street willfully. The opposition recognized the results of neither parliamentary nor presidential elections. And yet, Saakashvili’s government passed the biggest exam during the war in August 2008. The Russian military aggression was followed by endless expectations of the Georgian president from Western Europe and the USA. However, personal and psychological factors played negative role in the break-out of the war.

The “Five-Day” war changed not only Saakashvili but also the political-geographic landscape of the country. Ghettos of hundred thousands of IDPs turned up in Georgia and they permanently remind the president of the results of the war. Unfortunately, his oath on the reintegration of Georgia made in 2004 is part of Saakashvili’s myth.

Saakashvili had better chances for the reconstruction of the country than anyone else had ever had in the history of Georgia. However, the leader, trained in the struggles, promises and illusions, could not resist the charm of power and became the hostage of his own unreal wishes, hypocritical environment and partly implemented reforms. Uncured traumas of the post-war country almost became the reason of his political amnesia.

Today, simultaneously careful, depressive but still active, Saakashvili got rid of the reliable and jealous capital after the short war and lasting peace. Red ribbons for small reconstruction projects were cut in Batumi, Zugdidi and Kutaisi but it looks like an attempt to forget terrible pains. In fact, he still tries to hide or to forget the nightmare of the war. This time, he initiated economical projects and offered them to the de-facto regimes of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. However, he could do it before the war and it could be a logical step in the attempt at their integration. At least, the West would have seen it as such.

The promises of the president on the reintegration of the society permanently encounters with the non-social policy of the government and the ultra-liberal economy. People get stranger for the government although the president almost every day opens small enterprises and vegetable greenhouses. The television exposes him as sociable, smiley with children and as a patriot.

It is noteworthy that the president does not have advisors. By the way, he does not have even a speech-advisor. He does not read already written statements. He does not care about live-failures on TV. His speeches do not coincide with the real time, are very primitive and lack imagination; more precisely, his appeals look like the absurd monologues of the characters of UNESCO and Aragal’s plays where there is not link between intentions, actions and the context.

 Lacking critical thinking and acting by reflex stimulations, he has recently decided to introduce military-patriotic education in schools and various institutions. The strangest thing is that the president has recently used insulting words which differentiated him from the opposition rich with wasted political credits.  The subconscious fear of losing the power impacts his behavior and speech too.

Hyperactive but still disappointed, the president clearly avoids criticism; he does not want to recall unpleasant political events from the past. He cannot even start a dispute or debates with his opponents. However, he is happy to paue before video-cameras on ice-rinks; sincere or obsequious shouts Misha! The shouts of “Misha” are more precious for him than sharing critical opinions of his opponents.

Although much time is left before 2013, we can see the fear of losing power on his face today. And on this background, the candidate for the Tbilisi Mayor position Gigi Ugulava can be a fatal friend of Saakashvili like in Macbeth. And, since the subconscious fear is more vivid, which destroys even the logic, he gradually destroys his trust in friends and subdues his opponents. But, apparently, it is an obligatory contribution for the power – like the two children of the revolution Zhvania and Burjanadze, who were completely destroyed by the revolution and moral and psychic conditions of the third child (who is still president).

“Fear Eats the Soul” – is the title of film of the German film-director, Rainer Werner Fassbinder produced in the 1970s. At that time, Saakashvili was learning at the Experimental School # 1 in the peaceful period of Socialism. Lately, he visited his native school where he was greeted very warmly, but there he was not taught how to gain and lose power. However, it was taught neither during socialist time nor it is taught now. Developed civil consciousness is necessary for it. It is described in the book of the former president of the Czech Republic and permanent dissident Václav Havel “The Art of the Impossible.”

 

News