Writing for Politico, Maxim Tucker has written an intriquing profile of "Ukraine's most popular politician," former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili:
Former Georgian President and current Odessa Governor Mikhail Saakashvili says he would be prepared to take on the premiership of Ukraine in order to turn the country into a bulwark against Kremlin expansionism in Europe.
“I would like to take part in big changes and reforms, and in whatever capacity I can do it — I can do it,” he told POLITICO when asked about a potential prime ministerial campaign.
Speaking as regional elections revealed the crumbling powerbase of the country’s western-friendly government, he argued that only a strong and stable Ukraine could prevent Moscow from devouring more territory across the region.
“If Ukraine doesn’t contain Russia, I think Russia can easily wipe Georgia and the Baltic states from the map,” Saakashvili said during an exclusive interview in his new role as governor of Ukraine’s Odessa region. “A strong Ukraine is the biggest check on Russia.”
Ukrainians expressed widespread disillusionment with their political leaders at the recent elections, allowing pro-Russian candidates to win mayor and council positions across central and eastern Ukraine.
By contrast, a recent opinion poll found Saakashvili was the most popular politician in Ukraine. A petition calling for him to be made prime minister has gathered more than 30,000 signatures.
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Working characteristically late on the top floor of a deserted regional administration, he stressed that leading the cabinet was not a position he “aspired to,” and that he would not be joining any political parties as long as they maintain ties to the country’s billionaire businessmen.
“It’s not the job I am dreaming of. I refused to run on a party list, I don’t want to have anything to do with oligarchs,” he said. “I want to be a standard-bearer for reforms.”
But he delivered a withering indictment of current Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk and his decision not to participate in the elections.
“It’s not a normal thing for the prime minister’s party not to run in local elections — if you don’t want to test your popularity I don’t think you have a mandate to make reforms,” said Saakashvili.
He accused Yatsenyuk of bypassing ministers and creating a “shadow cabinet” that represents vested business interests, including those of Mykola Martynenko, a lawmaker wanted for questioning in Switzerland over bribery allegations.
“We need to reset this government. We should crack down on the shadow government … shadow figures who run the government’s oil and gas companies. Recently they did a huge reshuffle in the oil and gas sector and it’s all according to the blueprint of Martynenko, not the energy minister.”
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