31
Dec
Farage's Message
In 1897, St Elijah the Righteous delivered his New Year's Eve address. It was published as an article "What Shall I Tell You? What Can I Make You Happy With?" which is well-known in his homeland. The Father of the Georgian Nation urged his fellow countrymen to stop constantly lamenting their past greatness and prosperity, and to start actively working towards a better future for the sake of their children, ensuring that future generations would not face the same issues.
Similarly, Nigel Farage, a British politician and broadcaster who has been the Member of Parliament for Clacton and the Leader of Reform UK since 2024, made his own New Year's Eve address on 31 December 2024 from Blenheim Palace. His speech focused on the ambition to "make Britain great again," rooted in British values such as family, community, and country. Farage's 5-minute speech shares many similarities with the goals of the Georgian public figure, Prince Elijah Chavchavadze, whose ideas have continued to influence Georgia's journey toward independence, freedom, state prosperity, and the personal happiness of each citizen.
Nigel Farage served as a Member of the European Parliament for South East England from 1999 until the UK's withdrawal from the European Union in 2020. He was the leader of the UK Independence Party from 2006 to 2009 and again from 2010 to 2016. Farage is known for being a persistent activist, advocating for the rights of his fellow citizens and for the independence of his homeland. As of 2024, he is highly motivated to improve 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 has emerged that is embraced by the vast majority of citizens—dignity—though interpretations of its political significance may vary. 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 communally.
