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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

CPU plenum confirms that the party has no clearly formulated program to reform itself

21 December, 1999 - 00:00

COMMUNISTS SUM UP ELECTIONS

The CPU CC Plenum scheduled for early December could theoretically provide quite an impact on the alignment of forces in the Red leadership. Only several weeks ago many felt sure that after his inevitable fiasco in the presidential campaign Petro Symonenko would be ousted from the CPU top spot and that the persuading would be done by his close comrades led by Adam Martyniuk and Stanislav Hurenko. Nothing happened. Actually, the election results allowed Comrade Symonenko to meet the next party plenum his usual calm and confident self.

LESSONS OF OCTOBER OR THE PARTY IN THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN

Petro Symonenko assessed the elections turnout as a Communist “political success; the Communist Party has not only withstood and consolidated its ranks, but also raised its prestige in society.” All the blame for the abortive idea of uniting the Left forces he placed on the “fraternal” Socialist, Peasant, and Progressive Socialist Parties.

CAUSES OF DEFEAT

The CPU Plenum tried to analyze the reasons for the party’s failure to reach its main goal, winning. One such reason was supposedly that the CPU’s allies were late in supporting the proposed “coordinated mass anti- Kuchma campaign” before the second round and when their support came it was inadequate. It was further pointed out that working against the Communists were both subjective factors (people’s fear that the worst Soviet realities might return, that Ukraine would be drawn into military conflicts, misconception and rejection of the Communist program) and objective ones (people’s being free to choose their way of life, opportunities to travel abroad, and make money tax free). However, the main reason for the fiasco in the elections, in the CPU leadership’s opinion, was the fact that a “mechanism of ruthless suppression of democracy” had been set in motion against the Communist candidate, using “a well adjusted state machine.”

WE SHALL WIN!

There was an interesting aspect to Petro Symonenko’s speech. He declared that the Communists can not only combat the “anti-people regime,” but also offer Ukraine an alternative program of development. However, that was as far as he got, mentioning nothing in particular, except the usual: building a society of social justice, protecting the interests of every individual, securing proper living conditions, etc. The plenum was further proof that the Communists do not have a clearly formulated reform program that could affect the existing sociopolitical and economic structures. Without this program all their outwardly correct premises are nothing but good intentions.

“ANY ELECTIONS ARE ONLY AN EPISODE IN OUR DAILY ACTIVITY”

After losing the elections the Communists did their utmost to make the best of a bad deal. In the final analysis, however, the plenum had to admit that the party has suffered a defeat in implementing its program objective using constitutional means. Can this statement be regarded as at least a theoretical implication that “unconstitutional means” could be resorted to in taking power? Or perhaps the Reds have finally agreed to stay on the losing side as an eternal opposition?

The resolution admits that the CPU has “failed to create an effective block of people’s patriotic forces around the candidate of the Communist Party of Ukraine.” Granted. And what about that “political success,” assuming that the priority tasks were not fulfilled? Of course, there is the “numerical growth of the Party” along with the “consolidation of the Communists” plus Comrade Symonenko remaining as First Secretary.

Be it as it may, the plenum resolved to hold the next inter-party reporting-election campaign in the first half of the next year. The said campaign is expected to become a preliminary stage in CPU preparations for its next congress and elections to Verkhovna Rada.

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