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Georgia poised to elect ârose revolutionâ hero
The Caucasus republic of Georgia, scene of a dramatic ârose revolutionâ six weeks ago which ousted veteran leader Eduard Shevardnadze, was preparing on Saturday to elect the fiery US-educated lawyer who led the popular revolt as its new president. Mikhail Saakashvili is running in a field of six in Sundayâs presidential election but the 36-year-old, riding high on a wave of hope that he can turn the impoverished former Soviet republic around, is seen as a certainty to win.
| Which means either that they like or that the fix is in... |
Once in office, he is expected to bring the country, which lies on the route of a strategic multi-million-dollar (-euro) oil pipeline from the Caspian Sea to international markets, closer to the West, a move that could antagonise neighbouring Russia which wants to keep Georgia in its orbit. He has also promised to make up for what he has called a âlost decadeâ under Shevardnadze when the once-affluent republic slipped into a quagmire of poverty, corruption and chaos.
| That happens when His Excellency's cronies grab all the dough... |
Saakashvili, who has a Dutch wife, was educated at Columbia University in the US before becoming Justice minister in Shevardnadzeâs government.
Posted by: Fred Pruitt 2004-01-03 |
