Marchuk is Neither Right nor Left. He Just Makes Sense!

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.