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Where there is no law, but every man does what is right in his own eyes, there is the least of real liberty
Henry M. Robert

Cabinet Dismissal

23 March, 1999 - 00:00

By Tetiana KOROBOVA, The Day
Is there a real threat of the government's dismissal this time? As was
predicted by The Day, the preventive measures by the NDP Political
Executive Committee nomenklatura, which passed an official decision to
support Kuchma in the presidential elections, have somewhat slowed the
process. "This was the only way at this stage to influence the President,
who had virtually agreed to Pustovoitenko's removal," one NDP member told
our correspondent. On the other hand, Pustovoitenko's opponents close to
the Presidential Administration produced a wail of frustration: "The President
again disagrees, does not want to give his O.K."

Thus, despite the decisiveness of the Communists, whose leader Petro
Symonenko informed The Day that the government report initiated
by the Communist faction will be heard not later than this April, it is
difficult to forecast the further development of the situation. Natalia
Vitrenko is certain that "the government will not fall. The situation repeats
itself: Symonenko and Moroz threaten but suggest nothing. I am so bored
with their provocations, that I openly told them: 'Propose me! I'm not
afraid. I'll take responsibility, and lead the government tomorrow.' However,
they won't propose not only me, but anybody."

Oleksandr Moroz has this to say: "We have initiated the dismissal, but
presently I am being cautious, for now it is the President who is most
interested in the government's dismissal. Thus, let him solve this issue
the way he has planned, and not using the hands of Verkhovna Rada."

Oleksandr Volkov, a representative of the Revival of the Regions faction,
believes "the situation has not ripened yet, it is too early," and justifies
this by citing the fact that "everyone is for dismissal, but no one has
proposed either a new Premier or composition of the government, so we need
additional consultations." Kostenko's Rukh is ready for such consultations:
"There is no Left majority in Verkhovna Rada, there is a constructive majority.
And we suggest that it be used as a basis to form a new government." Also
calling for a coalition government is Valery Babych (Batkivshchyna {Fatherland}):
"Our faction has discussed this issue, and we are ready." Hromada's attitude
is also rather understandable. Only Borys Andresiuk (united Social Democrats)
has given no answer, referring to the lack of decision within his faction.
Which is also quite telling.

This is why a source close to the Cabinet remarked sadly, "In terms
of Verkhovna Rada structure, the number of votes one would get for the
government's dismissal would surprise many. However, there is the problem
of wanting to get rid of the government, and a problem of capability and
organization." The intentions of the initiators of the latest threat to
Mr. Pustovoitenko, the Communists, might this time not have been wrong
for the reason having a very implicit relation to the current economic
situation. There is hope among the Left that the Premier, bereft of his
post, will still not give up and run for President himself, that is, against
Leonid Kuchma. Interestingly, part of the NDP cherishes the same hope:
Pustovoitenko, relieved from his Premier's post, will, in his turn, objectively
free the party from any obligations to the President, the NDP will have
its own candidate, and a good chance to remain a political force.

But then it is possible that the Greens' Vitaly Kononov will be right:
"The political brawl over the government is like a big cloud: there will
be some thunder, but little rain."

 

No rain in this cloud
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