Billionaire launches new political party to challenge Saakashvili

(21 Apr 2012) AUDIO AS INCOMING
1. Various of Georgian billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili on stage
2. Close of slogan reading (English) "Together will shall make Georgian dream come true!"
3. Wide of Ivanishvili on stage
4. SOUNDBITE(Georgian) Bidzina Ivanishvili, Georgian billionaire and founder of Georgian Dream Democratic Georgia Party:
"The foreign and internal policies conducted by the Georgian authorities and the methods of governance have put the perspective of the country''s democratic development at risk. The positive events which followed the ''Rose Revolution'' of 2003 have been replaced by a facade of democracy and authoritarianism. The majority of citizens does not have hope for a better future anymore."
5. Cutaway of audience applauding
6. SOUNDBITE Bidzina Ivanishvili, Georgian billionaire and founder of Georgian Dream Democratic Georgia Party:
"The political party Georgian Dream Democratic Georgia is ready to take responsibility for getting the country out of the political and economic crisis and guaranteeing the rights and freedoms for its citizens. "
7. Wide of audience applauding
8. Ivanishvili walking towards car waving to the crowd
9. Ivanishvili getting into car
10. Ivanishvili''s convoy driving off
STORYLINE
Georgia''s richest man Bidzina Ivanishvili founded a political party on Saturday which he hopes will challenge the ruling majority in parliament.
The "Georgian Dream Democratic Georgia" party will take part in the parliamentary elections in October 2012 and, if successful, could see Ivanishvili becoming prime minister.
Ivanishvili has made it clear that his desire to be a politician is born out of a conviction that Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili is unfit to lead.
"The positive events which followed the ''Rose Revolution'' of 2003 have been replaced by a facade of democracy and authoritarianism. The majority of citizens does not have hope for a better future any more," Ivanishvili told a crowd of supporters.
He has accused the president of trying to block his political ambitions by revoking his citizenship.
Saakashvili stripped Ivanishvili of his citizenship last year after he adopted French nationality.
As the law stands that would mean Ivanishvili cannot enter politics, however parliament is set to change the rules to open the door to citizens of EU member countries who have lived in Georgia for the last ten years.
Fifty-six year old Ivanishvili accumulated most of his wealth in Russia in the 1990s.
His 5.5 (b) billion US dollars worth of assets outside Georgia is equal to one half of Georgia''s annual GDP.
Ivanishvili is number 153 in the Forbes list of billionaires.

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