Saakashvili Advises World’s Reformers

In his article, published by the Financial Times on May 26, President Saakashvili outlined those five core principles that, as he put it, “all reformers – present and aspiring – should heed.” Saakashvili writes that now it is clear that, after the revolutionary changes in Tbilisi, Kiev and Bishkek, “the old status quo is gone forever.”
 
“It is much easier to make a revolution than it is to transform a failed state into a well-performing democracy,” the Georgian President says.

He says “the window of opportunity for democratic reform is very narrow and will not stay open indefinitely. Every reformer should know that the race for the future is won by the swift.”

“Second, reform has to be comprehensive. One cannot reform parts of the state structure and retain the old order in others,” Saakashvili writes.

He says that the people are the best ally of the reformers.

“In principle, there should not be such a thing as unpopular reform; rather there are reformers who often fail to explain their programmes and to link them to the long-term public interest… Public debate over reforms is thus central to their success.”

He listed creating of strong democratic institutions, which will “endure long beyond their [reformers’] term in office” as the fourth principle.

“Finally, reformers should not count on keeping society permanently happy. They should accept that, sooner or later, their constituents will be disappointed with them and they will be voted out of office,” Saakashvili said.

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