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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

DOES EVERY PRESIDENT RATE zAN OPPOSITION?

17 March, 1998 - 00:00


Back from Moscow,
Mr. Kuchma told journalists: "There is no clear-cut
opposition [in Ukraine].
I cannot consider that
we have one. It's just
a form of political struggle being fought on all
sides — right, left,
and center."

Perhaps unintentionally, the Chief Executive aptly described current Ukrainian policy. Indeed, what is opposition? Generally, it is a certain political force which is not in power at the moment, regardless of whether it criticizes those in office or loves them tenderly. It is in opposition just because it is political. There are problems, however. Who is in power in Ukraine? Ask the Communists and they will point to the Rukh. Ask the Rukh and they will say the Communists are, and everybody will mention clans, the Mafia, etc. Maybe the People's Democratic Party, with its member heading the cabinet? Then how about Socialist Minister of the Economy Suslov? Maybe we have a coalition government? No, not with the Socialists in opposition... In a situation, with all parties having a hand in the government, a peculiar definition appeared, "constructive opposition," a remarkably nonsensical one.

In other words, the President has a point there. His biggest mistake is that he has not, and is not likely to become the center of political crystallization, as the parties are building their politics round this central figure. How can a multiparty government policy be effective if the Chief Executive is unaffiliated?

He said he did not consider what was going on as opposition, just political struggle. A logical controversy, because opposition implies political confrontation, and an obsolete concept regarding politics as something that has to be "peaceful," even "kind-hearted." Spoken by a housewife, it sounds natural, but stated by a leading politician, it sounds hypocritical, at best.

Last but not least, Mr. Kuchma's statement reflects an "opposition" stand traditionally taken in a campaign for the Presidency. It is a smart psychological move; he does not counter his opponents in any essence, he simply does not consider them ones. Imagine a dialogue between the President and his opponents: they say they are in opposition and they do not like the existing regime because of, say, 64 points explaining exactly why they hate it and want it changed. To which he replies, "You mean YOU are the opposition? Oh come on, take a good look in the mirror, don't make me laugh!"

One can only envy the President. He is not only undisturbed, he even speaks aphoristically. At least his phrase quoted at the beginning is much shorter than this brief commentary.

PS: The Day decided to find out what people representing different political forces, still calling themselves opposition, had to say on the subject.

Bohdan Yaroshynsky, leader of the Ukrainian Republican Party: Mr. Kuchma is right in a way. Strictly speaking, there is no opposition, because the Leftist opposition is actually directed against the state and the President understands that this opposition can exist inasmuch as it is possible to shake the state's foundation these days. On the other hand, the President is also right, because there is no united Rightist opposition, and what we know as constructive opposition suits most parties.

Viacheslav Chornovil, leader of Rukh: There will be no opposition for as long as the President remains unaffiliated, the government clannish rather than party-oriented, and Parliament without a strictly defined majority and minority. One can talk about classic opposition only when this majority can actually influence the Cabinet-shaping process. The President was right when he said there was no opposition if he had this in mind. Our party is in opposition, because we are not in power. It's simply that our opposition is not standard.

Ivan Chyzh, a Socialist Party leader: I think the President will say there is opposition in Ukraine after he decrees one. As for his statement, it is perfectly absurd. We have a de facto opposition and its exponents were right from the outset, saying that Kuchma's reforms will cause a catastrophe in Ukraine. This opposition is based on wisdom. But there is also an opposition stemming from political ups and downs, it is an operetta opposition running around waving posters of Yaroslav the Wise. The undeniable fact is that the entire people is in opposition today, against this regime, the government, President, and Parliament.

Photo by Volodymyr Rasner, The Day:

Pavlo Lazarenko is already in "position". Perhaps Valery Pustovoitenko has little time left to save face for Leonid Kuchma.

 

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