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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

Medvedchuk and Kuchma Have Different Plans

18 May, 1999 - 00:00

By Tetiana KOROBOVA, The Day
The version envisaging that if Mr. Surkis takes Kyiv, Mr. Medvedchuk will
be nominated for the presidential election with Leonid Kuchma's blessing
as his designated successor, has a tendency to persist, although it seems
to be based on the actual scenario of a somewhat remote period, a scenario
which came into our lives as hearsay. Some informed sources report that
the SDPU(u) strategic plan proposed to the President aims to: secure Kuchma's
victory in the election, admit him to the SDPU(u), and take over from him
the helm of state in 2004. However, the version of Medvedchuk's sooner
advent as official successor of the President does exist, and at the request
by The Day's Tetiana KOROBOVA, it is evaluated by People's
Deputies:

Taras STETSKIV:

It is possible that someone in the Presidential Administration did
promise Medvedchuk nomination as the official successor in 2004. I think
they could promise that to a great many. But it would be neither realistic
nor serious for this year. Still, one can expect anything from this holding
team - appetite usually comes with eating, but with them it comes before,
during and after eating. And yet, my personal observations indicate that
Kuchma would not accept the possibility of withdrawing his candidacy. I
think Medvedchuk is now more concerned with the problem of how to clear
his way for the 2004 elections - to put away Yushchenko. Because he knows
only too well that Yushchenko will be his competitor in four years.

Yuri KARAMZIN:

I know some people say that Leonid Kuchma would be better off to step
down before it is too late and hand over power with dignity. This would
by a wonderful way out of the situation for both Kuchma and the Ukrainian
people. I think in the current situation counting on Medvedchuk would be
not the worst possible decision, based on the following considerations:
whom can the President can rely on as his man, and who will guarantee the
security of Leonid Kuchma and his men when they are not in power? By deductive
reasoning, having doubts about Pustovoitenko and Tkachenko, they have decided
on Medvedchuk, who would be able to safeguard the interests of the President
and his clan. But all this is romantic fiction.

Serhiy TERIOKHIN

Absurd! Go out into the street and ask anybody if he knows who Medvedchuk
is. Maybe you will manage to find someone who does. And, second, Kuchma
is also not simple. For two years he has been obstinate, ruined his competitors,
built various systems, sought support abroad, and will he now give it all
to someone voluntarily? No, he is genetically incapable of believing in
his failure in the election.

Roman ZVARYCH

I think, such idea may be haunting Viktor Medvedchuk and his entourage.
But knowing our President's character, if I wanted to start quarrel Medvedchuk
and Surkis with Leonid Kuchma, I would try hard to persuade them to approach
the President with such a proposal. Medvedchuk expects to become President
in 2004. And all the actions taken now are careful preparation by a party
which, having financial resources, is eager to reinforce them with political
levers in order to be able to take control over the processes taking place
in both the political and financial sectors.

 

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