The Left-Center and Right unite to support a single candidate
By Roman KHYMYCH, The Day
The uniting congress of the Our President - Yevhen Marchuk election bloc,
which took place last Saturday and brought together the Social-Democratic
Union, Ukrainian Republican Party, Ukrainian Peasant-Democratic Party,
Christian-Democratic Union, marked the appearance of a truly broad coalition
of forces united around the person of Yevhen Marchuk. In addition, the
Derzhavna Nezalezhnist Ukrainy [State Independence of Ukraine] congress
decided to support the candidacy of Yevhen Marchuk in the presidential
elections. His appearance on the stage makes nonsense of the statement
about there being no alternative to Leonid Kuchma as a non-Left candidate.
Yevhen Marchuk has always kept some distance from membership in a party,
perhaps considering it not necessary to confine himself to a single ideology.
His sympathies, though, belong to the ideals of Social-Democracy. The goal
he proclaimed - to unite our riven Ukrainian society - requires an ability
to find points of contact with all the trends represented in the country's
political life. In his opinion the main task for the new administration
is "to pay off what the people is owed." Moreover, citizens, and legal
entities must be compensated for losses incurred because of the actions
of governmental structures and officials. "Order in this country can be
restored only by the means of the dictatorship of law," Yevhen Marchuk
is convinced.
Marchuk's mastery as a politician and his ability to find compromises
that allow everybody to keep face should be also mentioned. For slogans
equally understandable for both Communists and nationalists can always
be found. At a meeting with voters in Chernihiv the next day Mr. Marchuk
(once again!) was asked about his attitude toward OUN-UPA [Organization
of Ukrainian Nationalists-Ukraine Insurgent Army]. The audience applauded
him after he mentioned the people of Spain who found the strength to overcome
hatred and his appeal, "Let us think of those beardless boys who were recruited
by both sides... Let us not drag our dead into the future." Of numerous
answers the meeting participants gave to The Day's Valentyna
KUZNETSOVA I intentionally picked the answers of pensioners who sympathize
with the Left, "He is a vigorous, practical person, a worthy politician.
I don't know whether I'll vote for Marchuk, but I definitely will vote
against Kuchma and Vitrenko... You know, I like Yevhen Kyrylovych. A vigorous,
clever person, though in general I like the Communists better... I have
been a [Communist] party member for over 30 years, I was a secretary of
a district party committee. I believe in this person."
All this demonstrates the hopelessness of attempts by media outlets
the presidential entourage controls to portray Marchuk as a Right-wing,
even extreme Right-wing politician by focusing attention on his supporters
from that part of the political spectrum. Moreover, the incumbent President
is assiduously positioning himself as "not Left" by modestly remaining
silent about his actual position. He is neither Right nor Left, simply
nondescript. In this connection one can recall the words of Ukrainian Republican
Party leader Oleksandr Shandruk: "Marchuk is neither Right nor Left. He
just makes sense!" Yevhen Marchuk has bet on being able to attract adherents
from practically all extant Ukrainian political positions without exception.
He needs no Zlahoda. Is it necessary in general to demand anything from
a Zlahoda caught between the representatives of different societal strata
with different interests? Would it not be better to put forth a slogan
about the need for a civic contract between different parties, between
society and its leader? The contracting parties in general, without retreating
from their principles, could find something in common and jointly assume
certain specific obligations.
The congress emphasized the content of such a contract: unlimited faith
in Yevhen Marchuk's ability to lead the country in its current circumstances.
The speakers did not conceal this: "By conducting the agitation of people,
we will not explain theoretical nuances; we will tell them, 'We're for
Marchuk,' and they'll become ours. The urgency of the moment makes it impossible
to increase attention on theoretical issues." Even from the orators' speeches
it was evident what different factors led different people to decide (and
this is most important!) to support Marchuk. The speech by a Hromada representative
left no doubts that even this party led by quite ambitious people look
on Marchuk's candidacy with more than benevolence. The question of Yevhen
Marchuk's social base is most interesting. Present in the hall were many
invited workers from the Cabinet, Presidential Administration, ministries,
and other official bodies. Tired of the incompetence of yesterday's failures,
they are seriously frightened by the aggressiveness of today's parvenu
oligarchs and feel sorry for the literate, experienced officials who know
the meaning of bureaucratic activity and can appreciate executive work
and experience.
Andriy Volodymyrovych Bereza, who last worked in the Ministry of Internal
Affairs, now unemployed, said, "I became acquainted with Yevhen Kyrylovych
while working in the Cabinet of Ministers. I was in contact with him in
my work and can say that he is a person of order, order which he demands
both from himself and from everyone else. He is above all a judicious and
resolute person. He knows what to do and how to do it, not only how to
start something but to finish it. He is able to unite different leadership
styles from the authoritarian to the democratic. Without reservation, I
consider him a leader of the contemporary type.
The congress confirmed that one cannot juxtapose the Right and the Left,
fanning hostility between people. Everybody thirsts for the establishment
of order and elementary organization in the country's life. With rare exceptions
all want good for Ukraine, even though they might see it differently.







