March 1, 2004

BETTER DEMOCRATIC MEANS TO ACHIEVE...:

SAAKASHVILI OPPONENTS IN GEORGIA SAY PRESIDENT IS USING ANTI-DEMOCRATIC METHODS TO ADVANCE DEMOCRACY (EurasiaNet, 3/01/04)

President Mikheil Saakashvili is facing resistance to his fast-paced attempt at implementing far-reaching political and economic reforms in Georgia. Critics of the president complain that Saakashvili is embracing anti-democratic methods in order to promote democracy.

Yeah, Francisco Franco and Augusto Pinochet did the same thing and all they produced was vibrant democratic nations which avoided the decades of misery their neighbors went through...oops, never mind.

Posted by Orrin Judd at March 1, 2004 7:17 PM
Comments

Well, I agree with Saakashvili that the percentage of popular support necessary for a political party to participate should not be lowered. Judging by the results of the US' two major party system, forcing fringe groups to find common ground with a major party does seem to result in a more stable government.
The other end of the spectrum is Italy.

Also, being able to dissolve Parliament if they can't pass a budget seems reasonable, and a tool that many a US Governor would envy.

Posted by: Michael Herdegen at March 1, 2004 8:01 PM

This isn't "anti-democratic," just a rather strong executive with legislative checks. If you want a Franco/Pinochet figure, look to Pakistan, not Georgia.

Posted by: Mark Byron at March 1, 2004 8:40 PM

However, the fortunes of those opposing the reforms are diametrically opposed to that of the nation as a whole. The leaders would personally do much better without the reforms. I doubt that the fate of the nation and its other citizens is something that it occurs to these people to be concerned about.

Posted by: Annoying Old Guy at March 1, 2004 9:12 PM

Musharraf is a long way from being Franco or Pinochet - he doesn't even control parts of his own territory.

Posted by: jim hamlen at March 1, 2004 10:41 PM

And shows no interest in leaving his country better than he found it.

Posted by: oj at March 1, 2004 10:50 PM

Yet another ex-Soviet-satellite state that's more pro-US than Boston, MA.

Posted by: mike earl at March 2, 2004 9:50 PM
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