• Українська
  • Русский
  • English
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

One Omelchenko Bows Out For Another

25 May, 1999 - 00:00

By Vyacheslav YAKUBENKO, The Day
Last week Kyiv mayoral candidate Hryhory Omelchenko announced he was bowing
out of the race and simultaneously registered as a campaign aide of another
candidate, Oleksandr Omelchenko (current Head of the City State Administration).
Oleksandr Omelchenko solemnly promised Hryhory Omelchenko to carry out
an anti-corruption program in the capital and remain an "independent and
honest politician, not one waiting on the President."

In other words, Oleksandr Omelchenko's stand reflects a new stage in
the election campaign, distancing himself from the chief executive. Considering
the current Mayor's rather high popularity, his demonstrative loyalty to
the President (and the latter's rather low ratings) might have been the
city father's Achilles' heel. Last week he declared that he was blessed
by the President. Now his campaigners make statements to the contrary,
perhaps for appearances' sake. Mykhailo Pozhyvanov, head of the Municipal
Reform Fund, announced on May 17 that the central government is purposefully
destroying local self-government by nominating candidates from among the
President's closest associates.

Further evidence that there is no love lost between the President and
Kyiv Mayor could be Mr. Omelchenko's allegation that there is a draft edict
ready to relieve him of the post. True, two weeks prior to the mayoral
elections such an attitude by the head of state could only augment Mr.
Omelchenko's image in the public eye. Moreover, why should he need the
City Administration, considering that after his probable victory all municipal
power would be vested in the City Executive Committee and he would appoint
its members?

 

Rubric: