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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

Chief Executive Opts for Shadow Politics

12 May, 1999 - 00:00

By Viktor MELNYK, The Day
Vinnytsia journalists were particularly interested in the press conference
of the NDP leader and People's Deputy Anatoly Matviyenko, for his party
is the region's party of power, and so how its leader behaves will significantly
influence the careers of many local officials. And Mr. Matviyenko lived
up to their expectations and demonstrated a well-considered and consistent
attitude towards the President and his future.

First he drew a line between the two trends of contemporary Ukrainian
politics different in principle and thus described the one chosen by Leonid
Kuchma, "Unfortunately, our attempt to draw Mr. Kuchzma into the sphere
of public politics failed completely. The President made his choice by
relying on clan oligarchs and representatives of shadow politics. And today
shadow politics fear public politics like a moth fears the light, and this
is the reason for everything that is happening on the political map of
Ukraine." Having stated his conviction that it would be pointless to support
the candidacy of a "weak President," Mr. Matviyenko added, "I must warn
the party against such a catastrophic and wrong step."

As for delimitation of forces within the party, Anatoly Matviyenko bitterly
admitted that the NDP not only was trying to take power but that "the regime
has grabbed the party." Hence, "I will without question never be the leader
of a party that decides to support Kuchma, and I will never give my consent
to it." He also views the coming party congress quite pessimistically.
Mr. Matviyenko thinks that "it is most likely that the congress will be
raped" just like the political council was.

In fact, various factions have emerged within the NDP, albeit not yet
officially registered. The main question was: if not Kuchma, then who?
Whom will those whose interests Anatoly Matviyenko represents support?
The answer is, "Moroz is not the worst option. The candidacies of Udovenko
and Marchuk are no weaker than the current President's."

It is difficult not to agree to the election strategy Mr. Matviyenko
suggests: the Right-Center parties should find a criterion and choose a
single candidate, even if he does not suit everyone, because today no party
can bring its individual candidacy to power. And if this does not happen,
then "not the Reds but a Red-Brown coalition will come to power."

INCIDENTALLY

Anatoly Matviyenko, when speaking at the conference of Kyiv city NDP
organization, said that he "sees no difference between the structures of
Viktor Pinchuk, Hryhory Surkis, and Oleksandr Volkov that support President
Leonid Kuchma and the structures that stood behind Pavlo Lazarenko," UNIAN
reported. Anatoly Matviyenko spoke strongly against his party supporting
Kuchma's candidacy for reelection. Chairman of Kyiv's NDP city organization,
Minister of the Cabinet of Ministers Anatoly Tolstoukhov thus commented
on his party leader's statement, "Today no further evidence is needed that
Anatoly Matviyenko, Oleksandr Moroz, and Petro Symonenko are speaking the
same language." Mr. Tolstoukhov considers the NDP conference decision to
support the candidacy of Leonid Kuchma "justified morally, historically,
and politically." And the decision of the congress of NDP must be the same,
he added.

 

Thinks NDP leader Anatoly Matviyenko
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