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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

DEBATES STARTED

13 November, 2012 - 00:00

Three topics were most actively debated in Parliament last Tuesday: the President’s report, Valery Pustovoitenko’s transfer to the government, and Symonenko’s nomination for Speaker. Tetiana Korobova of The Day met with several People’s Deputies and posed them these questions:

1. What do you think of the President’s message?

2. What does Mr. Pustovoitenko’s waiver of parliamentary status mean?

3. How would you comment on Mr. Symonenko’s nomination?

Viktor Pynzenyk (unaffiliated):

1. What would anyone familiar with the domestic situation expect from this report in the first place? A program of top priority measures aimed at stabilizing the economy and securing economic growth. Regrettably, I heard nothing of the kind. No constructive action program was offered.

Leonid Kravchuk (SDP{U}):

2. Valery Pustovoitenko wants to work in the government and believes that the President’s stand is the one to be adhered to. He made a correct and courageous move. No matter how critical we are of the government, I think that the more often our Premiers are replaced the worse the situation in Ukraine will become.

3. I think that Mr. Symonenko was not overly enthusiastic about the nomination. I also think that the CP Plenum resolution will not be supported by other factions. Mr. Moroz stands about as big a chance. Now if the Communists and Socialists agreed on a single candidate and were supported by another faction or two, we might have a new Speaker.

Oleksandr Moroz (leader of the Left Center fraction):

2. It means that he wants to be Premier. He did the right thing, because if he refused he would no longer be Premier and the Cabinet would have to retire.

3. The Communists had every right to do so. They have the largest faction in Parliament and it was not formed artificially but supported by the electorate. They made a logical step.

Viktor Chaika (unaffiliated):

1. Freedom of the press is not an ax. The President said this and I liked what I heard, because the press is in reality a very heavy and sharp ax. Otherwise, the President’s message was a shot in the dark. Parliament has changed, but his speech was meant for the old audience. He is aware of perhaps half of what the new one needs. We are actually witness now to the beginning of the age-old confrontation between fathers and sons. A new generation has stepped into Parliament.

Yuri Orobets (former Deputy):

2. Valery Pustovoitenko’s decision means that the President still believes he has a majority in Parliament. Wait until the Speaker is elected, and you’ll see that the President is very wrong.

3. The Communist nomination means that the President is trying to influence the situation in the Left wing. It would serve his purpose to have no opposition on the Right. He tried to squash it using court proceedings. He wants to have people on the Left take a “superorthodox” stand, so he could resume the game he’s been playing the past three years: a Leftist Parliament throwing monkey wrenches in the President’s works. After Symonenko the Communists might nominate Hurenko. They want to bet on the ultraleft, to block the way for Moroz come what may.

Yuri Karmazin (unaffiliated):

2. Once again by waving his seat in Parliament, Valery Pustovoitenko has demonstrated his loyalty to the President, but I doubt that this will help. True, he would stand a real chance to remain Premier if the Communists entered an alliance with the NDP.

3. I think that this is euphoria following an easy victory and being ill-informed about the actual situation.

Oleksandr Lavrynovych (Rukh):

2. As for Pustovoitenko, he could write now that he is abstaining from taking the oath and receiving his People’s Deputy credentials, but after losing his Premiership he could come and take the oath.

3. I think it demonstrates the multistage nature of the process. Considering that the President meets behind closed doors with Vitrenko and Symonenko, it stands to reason that they are trying to come to terms. The Left might shut out some of its own, and the NDP could play along with the Communists.

 

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