Rock-’n’-roll in a henhouse
The civic bloc PORA-Reforms and Order [PRP] has not developed any symbols. Next to Cinema Ukraina, where an interparty convention was taking place, you could see young people holding party flags, some backing PORA and others, the PRP. Hanging inside the hall was a large yellow banner covered with popular, positive slogans, like “fair play,” “experience,” “PORA/ high time,” and “order.” However, the legendary reform and order bee was missing. Indeed, beekeeping is currently associated with a different political force.
The party convention was called to order 30 minutes behind schedule. In the meantime, the assembled journalists pounced on Vitaly Klychko. The rookie politician willingly communicated with the press and seemed in no hurry to go inside the hall. He said that he does not feel like an “operetta general” in the bloc, adding that he was “always interested in politics...This is my country and I link my past, present, and future to Ukraine.” A couple of steps from the celebrated Ukrainian boxer were other public figures, such as Taras Stetskiv, Volodymyr Filenko, and Markian Lubkivsky, but all the attention was on the leader topping the list. After all questions were exhausted, the journalists and delegates started asking the former boxing star for autographs. He is still a celebrity, after all. Whether Vitaly will become a celebrated politician is another question.
The party convention was chaired by PORA leader Vladyslav Kaskiv. Predictably, the first to take the floor was Klychko. Kaskiv introduced him as “an outstanding personality of today.” Klychko explained that he did not want to be included in Yushchenko’s party roster as a warrior: “Those who won the Orange revolution seem oblivious to the fact that the people are demanding the victory of justice. Our political force is made up of people who continue to struggle.” The bloc is entering politics in order to make everyone play “by the rules...We can achieve a lot for Ukraine; the hands of other politicians are bound. Some are keeping their hands in their pockets; others have their hands on others’ throats...” The chairman said that Klychko’s speech was “successful, as always.” Indeed, Vitaly spoke confidently, rarely consulting his notes.
Finance Minister Viktor Pynzenyk, introduced by Kaskiv as a “great practitioner,” declared that the bloc is entering parliament so as to “completely change the political system” (he never specified how; the roster contains absolutely familiar names). “All of us are in some way or other disappointed with the current government that has not reached the first boundaries, but has experienced a painful turning point,” he said. Concluding his speech, he said: “PORA must put Ukraine in order.” It looks as though this phrase will become the slogan of the new political force.
PORA’s leader took the floor after Pynzenyk. He was silent for a minute, and then he spoke: “Dear friends. I’m sorry, but that’s the only way I can address you...” That was how Kaskiv defined the ideological closeness of his political force to the president. What followed was criticism in the spirit of the times. He said that after working for the Presidential Secretariat, he became convinced that the entire political system is in a state of total chaos: “In the first three months I couldn’t figure out what was happening in the corridors of power. I thought that what was going on was too sophisticated for me. I even developed an inferiority complex. Later I realized that it was a theater of the absurd, that nothing made sense there.”
Yevhen Zolotariov, PORA’s second in command, proceeded to show off with some metaphors. In his opinion, the current government resembles “an old village henhouse.” After a dramatic pause, he added: “With old and distinguished hens occupying their perches — and not just hens but roosters. I want the PORA-PRP bloc to stage a real rock-’n’-roll in that henhouse.” The audience responded with an ovation, even though there were quite a few “old and distinguished” ones among the delegates and in the presidium.
When the delegates and the press grew tired of the rousing speeches, they were served dessert after the intermission, when the roster was read out. As could be expected, the list was topped by Klychko, Pynzenyk, and Kaskiv. The top five also included Stetskiv and PORA member Zolotariov. Sixth was Lubkivsky, ex-deputy of the “state secretary,” seventh, Serhiy Sobolev, eighth, Serhiy Yevtushenko, and ninth, Ihor Hryniv. In 10th position is publisher Ivan Malkovych. Volodymyr Filenko placed 11th on the roster and Volodymyr Bondarenko has ended up 13th on the list. The list also includes the names of Oleksandr Bohutsky, Yaroslav Lesiuk, the creator of the Orange logo, and Denys Bohush, one of Yushchenko’s campaign managers.
During the convention Kaskiv tendered his resignation as presidential adviser. He explained his decision by referring to the decision passed by PORA’s political council. “A decision was adopted that candidates whose names are included in the roster must terminate their activities as civil servants,” Kaskiv pointed out. Minister Viktor Pynzenyk, however, preferred to keep his post, because the budgetary process is going full steam ahead.
