Opposition UNM unveils its election action plan
By Mariam Chanishvili
Thursday, June 30
The parliamentary opposition party, United National Movement (UNM), has revealed its October 8 Parliamentary election action plan that covers economic, social, education and other issues.
The UNM, which ran the country for nine-years until it was defeated by the current ruling Georgian Dream (GD) coalition in the 2012 parliamentary race, claims their action plan will create up to 30,000 jobs annually.
The party says they will create 45, 000 new jobs next year alone as a result of “reasonable tax-related initiatives” if the people vote for them in the upcoming elections.
"In 2017, income tax will be reduced to 15%, and over the next four years it will be decreased to 10%,” the party states.
“90. 000 GEL circulation will be considered as microbusiness and will not be taxed (instead of the existing 30. 000 GEL circulation),” the action plan said.
The party also said they would minimize bureaucratic and other inefficient expenses by 1 billion lari for 2017.
The UNM promises that the saved money would be used for the increase of pensions and other social initiatives.
“From November 2016, the state pension will be increased by 50 GEL. Allowances will be restored to all the families that had been taken away from them unfairly. Minimum salaries for teahers in public schools will be increased to 650 GEL. The annual state grant programs will be expanded, and 5,000 more students will be able to obtain them,” UNM claims.
Meanwhile, the ruling GD leadership believes the UNM has no chance to win the race.
According to Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili, the GD is expected to have more than 100 members in Parliament, where the total number of lawmakers is 150.
“The only thing I can say for sure is that we will win the elections,” said Kvirikashvili.
