By Tetiana KOROBOVA, The Day
The slogan, "You are not alone, Hromada is with you," decorated the party's
sixth congress. On one side it spoke about daring exploitation of someone
else's windfalls and about possible changes (so as not to work for Hromada)
in the original series of the 1+1 Studio's self-promotional reels, on the
other.
The absence of Yuliya Tymoshenko and Oleksandr Turchynov immediately
attracted attention, although they had "resigned" from the party's management,
but remained members of its political council.
According to our correspondent, a boisterous meeting of the political
council took place the day before, and Mykhailo Brodsky and Viktor Chaika,
quite enough for Pavlo Lazarenko, gave a sharp blow to those who broke
away. Lazarenko himself did not mention any names in his report, but he
made his point clear about those "who beat their breasts and then go to
drink tea... Hromada needs no Trojan horses. If someone carries on a double
game, fulfilling orders from the Presidential Administration, let him leave
our ranks." Lazarenko told the authorities, who have done everything to
weaken and destroy Hromada, "You will never see it happen!"
He dedicated much time to his criminal charges, but he did not say anything
new. As usually he promised that "the authorities' activity will be exposed,"
when the Prosecutor General is heard in Parliament.
Naturally, the upcoming presidential election was the main issue. The
Hromada leader suggested considering two options: to nominate their own
candidate or to support a common candidate representing all opposition
forces. He did not specify which forces he meant, except the Left. But
Conservative Republican Stepan Khmara, Socialist Shybko, independent Serhiy
Holovaty, and Social Democrat Yuri Buzduhan were easily recognized among
the guests invited to the presidium. Lazarenko's brave declarations about
Hromada being a "centrist force, which consistently defends the ideals
of social democracy" and about party's intention to join the Socialist
International sound good in this connection.
In sum, Pavlo Lazarenko again appealed to the congress to express its
opinion regarding the cardinal problem of the moment: deciding on how it
will take part in the presidential elections: "A party, which will not
take part in the upcoming elections and does not have a candidate is doomed
to political death." In fact, the Hromada leader would not personally mind
another line of defense in the form of presidential candidate status.
The Hromada Congress was practically unanimous in its support of Lazarenko
for president.
PS: Our corespondent Volodymyr ZOLOTARIOV asked Mr. Turchynov
to comment on the situation:
"The conflict in Hromada has long been discussed. What was the main
reason why you offered your resignation: the methods of leadership or ideological
motives connected with performance of the parliamentary faction, including
voting, etc.?"
"The main reason is the absence of any discernible stand by the party
and its faction. The party's activity was extremely unsystematic; it would
resolve concrete local issues that had nothing to do with party strategy
or tactics. As to the voting results of the faction, I cannot say to what
part of the spectrum this segment of Verkhovna Rada belongs. As to the
party, it by no means made the electorate feel confidence, while party
work should be its very cornerstone."
"The Hromada conflict has never reached so high a pitch before. What
motivated Mr. Lazarenko's 'attack' on the opposition? There are two versions.
The first is that Mr. Lazarenko wants to make peace with those in power,
in which case he does not need an opposition in his party. The second holds
the opposite: the opposition thwarts his efforts to rally forces to combat
those in power."
"Both versions are fair. In both cases internal party opposition is
not necessary. It seems to me the party leader merely wants to concentrate
in his hands all power to have a free hand to carry out any maneuver."
"There also is a third assumption, namely that the Hromada internal
opposition is repudiating the tainted Lazarenko and makes it clear to Leonid
Kuchma that it is ready to cooperate. Such suspicions are being fueled
by things like the widespread official-media coverage of the budget committee's
role in the budget-making process."
"The point is not any repudiation. We did not take an oath of allegiance
to anybody, including Mr. Lazarenko. As to the budget process, it has clearly
shown we are not going to get adjusted either to the government or the
opposition. We see our goal in doing our best to enable this country to
ride out the crises."
"You must agree: now that you have offered your resignation, you
will have less opportunity to do this."
"Yes. So we will make a final decision about party membership after
the party congress, taking into account its resolutions, and after it becomes
clear whether the party leader will be able to put his ideas into practice."
"What kind of ideas?"
"As far as I know the future scenario, dissolution of the opposition
cabinet of ministers will be announced, although it is impossible to dissolve
what does not belong to the party. The congress of a certain party might
as well announce Parliament dissolved. Moreover, the party leader is going
to be nominated for the presidency, which we think inappropriate in the
current situation."
"If you leave the party, will you form a parliamentary faction of
your own or join something already existing?"
"I will be able to answer this question in early February."







