31
Dec
Farage's Message
In 1897, St Elijah the Righteous delivered his New Year's Eve address. It was published as the article "What Shall I Tell You? What Can I Make You Happy With?" This piece remains well-known in his homeland. The Father of the Georgian Nation urged his compatriots to cease their constant lamentations over past greatness and prosperity, and to begin actively working towards a brighter future for their children, ensuring that subsequent generations would not encounter the same challenges.
Similarly, Nigel Farage, a British politician and broadcaster who has served as the Member of Parliament for Clacton and the Leader of Reform UK since 2024, delivered his own New Year's Eve address on 31 December 2024 from Blenheim Palace. His speech centred on the ambition to "make Britain great again," drawing on British values such as family, community, and country. Farage's five-minute address resonates strongly with the aspirations of the Georgian public figure, Prince Elijah Chavchavadze, whose ideas continue to influence Georgia's journey towards independence, freedom, national prosperity, and the personal well-being of every citizen.
Nigel Farage represented South East England as a Member of the European Parliament from 1999 until the UK's withdrawal from the European Union in 2020. He led the UK Independence Party from 2006 to 2009 and again from 2010 to 2016. Farage is renowned for his relentless activism, advocating for the rights of his fellow citizens and the independence of his homeland. As of 2024, he remains highly motivated to enhance political, economic, and national security in the UK, inspired by his role as a proud and caring grandfather to his two newborn grandchildren.
Georgia and its people uphold the national values that St Elijah famously articulated: homeland, language, and religion. Recently, a fourth value—dignity—has emerged and gained widespread acceptance among the majority of citizens, although interpretations of its political significance may differ. Notably, the three major countries that the BRAMS Institute has studied over the past six years—the United Kingdom, the United States, and Georgia—share a common goal: to improve the lives of their citizens and provide greater opportunities for success, both personally and collectively.
