Saakashvili Hails Tbilisi Mayor for New Pension System

Speaking at a government session aired on live television, President Saakashvili said that the new local self-governance bodies which will be elected following the October 5 elections should be as effective as the current authorities of Tbilisi, led by Mayor Gigi Ugulava.

The ruling National Movement party nominated Ugulava as its candidate for the Tbilisi mayoral race.

Saakashvili said that effective governance in Tbilisi has made it possible to introduce to the capital city a pension system based on the length of a person’s service.

The system will be introduced in Tbilisi starting from September 1; as a result pensioners with a five-year service length will receive GEL 40; pensioners with a service length from 5 to 15 years will receive GEL 42; those with service length from 15 to 25 years ? GEL 45; and pensioners with more than 25 years of service ? GEL 48.

?It is, of course, not right that this system will be introduced only in Tbilisi. But we will assist the new local self-governance bodies, which will be elected after [the October 5] elections to create this system as it has been done in Tbilisi. I hope the new self-governance bodies will not be composed of bigmouths. Self-government bodies composed of good people will be able to make it. I fully support Gigi Ugulava?s decision [introduction of the new pension system in Tbilisi]. Tbilisi could do this, because it has a consolidated government. Similar governments should be created elsewhere in the regions,? President Saakashvili said.

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