Our Ukraine continues to consolidate, although it is anyone’s guess with whom and on what terms

The Forum of Democratic Forces organized by Our Ukraine, rather than summing up OU performance during the year since the parliamentary elections (as previously stated), focused on what is perhaps best described as making plans for the presidential campaign. People’s Deputy Petro Poroshenko, leader of the Solidarity Party affiliated with OU, pointed out that the forum was actually a launch pad for Yushchenko’s presidential campaign — although the campaign might well seem to have been triggered off by Poroshenko himself when he called on those present to stop having any doubts about the identity of the single democratic presidential candidate: “The whole country knows who this candidate is. He is sitting among us.” The Solidarity leader further cautioned the bloc membership against the temptation of dividing up the pie before they have a pie to cut: “Looking at the audience, I can see among you not only the future president, but also ministers and people who will take key posts in the [Presidential] Administration. Everyone seems to have appointed himself. God forbid that it turns out like this in reality.”

The forum climaxed in Yushchenko’s resolution on the formation of a public-political association, meant to “become the prototype of the future political system and social order in Ukraine.” From what The Day’s journalists could infer from lobby talk, the forum viewed that association’s format from various angles. The OU leader said he was prepared to join efforts with the Tymoshenko bloc, stressing, however, that its leader’s down-with-everything motto was not his priority. Our Ukraine seems to share SPU and CPU program principles in terms of social protection. Viktor Yushchenko stated that OU has no right to ignore any calls for unity, on the one hand, but on the other, the unity issue requires a “balanced approach, for here we have no right to make any mistakes,” and that one must be conscious of the possibility of some “technological provocation.” It is hard to say whether Yushchenko considers “provocative” Socialist leader Oleksandr Moroz’s proposal for the four opposition parties to sign a joint memorandum on the president’s constitutional reform initiatives, thus paving the way for a consensus, including the nomination of a single presidential candidate. Judging by what OU people had to say, the Moroz initiative had not met with support in their ranks. Below is a blitz interview with representatives of OU and other parties, as glimpse of what may or may not happen under the circumstances.

COMMENT

Viktor PYNZENYK, leader of the Reforms & Order Party:

In your address you said you were prepared to step down as R&O party leader and join a single party based on the Our Ukraine bloc. Was this your own position or that of R&O?

I can tell you with all confidence that I spoke on behalf of R&O. At the same time, I know that such sentiments also exist in other political parties. I am convinced that this effort (to form a single party — Ed.) can come to fruition. In any case, R&O is prepared to place its own party identity on the altar of the common cause. Besides, the elements of the political reform proposed by OU with regard to parliamentary elections envision the emergence of strong political parties in Ukraine.

What about the public political association mentioned by Viktor Yushchenko? Will it serve as the foundations of a single political party based on that bloc?

I would hope that the shaping of that association and the party process took a parallel course. Not everyone wants to join the party, although everybody adheres to certain political persuasions. The public political association would allow those who want to remain unaffiliated to unite.

Ivan PLIUSHCH, people’s deputy, Democratic Ukraine Group of People’s Deputies:

Could the current majority political forces join the public-political association initiated today?

This association will be the basis for a single powerful European-type parliamentary party. I believe that the majority political forces fit into the thesis voiced by Viktor Yushchenko — when he mentioned the presence of supporters in the echelons of power.

Yet they were not present, nor were the leaders of two opposition forces.

I think the leaders of two opposition forces are still reliving the experience of the latest vote (i.e., the radiation, chemical, and bacteriological warfare battalion — Ed.) They must still feel hurt by Our Ukraine’s indecisive stand.

Do you think the political reform could be carried out before the presidential campaign?

I don’t think that any political changes will take place under the current president. In fact, I said so from the parliamentary rostrum when discussing the propositions submitted by the head of state. If our president really wanted political reform, we would be halfway through the process.

Yury KOSTENKO, leader of the Ukrainian People’s Movement (Rukh-II), Our Ukraine bloc:

What purpose do such forums serve?

This one is aimed primarily at working out our action plan and start the process of uniting democratic forces, so as to form a campaign coalition for the presidential race. This coalition will, in turn, work out a common program and nominate a single candidate; it will thus be able to win the presidential race. The public political association mentioned by Viktor Yushchenko could be that kind of coalition.

Will that association serve as the basis of the long-awaited single political party?

Yes, it will, but shaping a single party should not be tied to any dates (for example, Our Ukraine’s victory in the elections). We must travel this road through the democratic procedures of forming such a coalition, through initiative from below, through the democratic principle of electing party leaders at different levels.

Viktor Pynzenyk said in his address he was prepared to step down now as R&O leader and apply for the new party membership. Would you follow suit?

Yes, I would, but I would want to be sure that the new party is a democratic one. We have had a lot of political projects handed us from above. None has worked because an ideologically solid, strong party is formed only when initiated from below and on that ideological platform.

Do you have any doubts about the OU-based party remaining democratic?

We have in our coalition people representing different ideologies. In order to form a single party, we must first agree on a set of program documents and hold discussions at various levels to decide on what kind of party we’ll have. It’s generally known that the stand taken by the forces we used to know as the Rukh Popular Movement turns out to be very different from the program principles of other democratic parties, with regard to our foreign policy, European and Euro-Atlantic integration, as well as strengthening the national factor in official policy.

Does that public political association provide for the involvement of other political forces, such as the Tymoshenko bloc, Communists, and Socialists?

I think that it could be joined by all forces that want democracy to triumph in Ukraine.

Oleksandr Moroz said in his address that the Socialists are prepared to unite in the presidential campaign, provided Group of Four will sign a memorandum on a joint concept of the political reform. How do you feel about this proposition?

I have come across such phenomena on more than one occasion; they say let’s sign this and that and then we’ll determine our stand. Remember the Kaniv Four? They also signed joint documents and we all know the outcome. We mustn’t follow in their footsteps. We should seek political rapprochement in our programs... Look at the Socialists. By supporting Yushchenko they will eventually be able to help him shape a political course meant to give social protection to most of the citizenry.

What kind of arrangements does it take to agree on a single presidential candidate?

Without doubt, you must start not by allocating future portfolios. You must start by figuring out the principles of a program which the president will proceed to carry out, so we all can have a better life. This must be a topic of debate, of course. After agreeing on that program you must look for the right candidate to make these principles a reality.

Anatoly MATVIYENKO, leader of the Sobor (Unity) Party, Tymoshenko bloc:

What do you think of that public-political association idea?

So far it’s just an initiative. In my address I said that we must form a coalition of volunteer and political organizations, ones aware of the need to set up a powerful political party. We won’t be able to do this before the presidential elections, yet we need to make arrangements now, acting as though we were a single party, and then, right after the elections, hold a congress to unite. This public political association must have precisely this kind of structure. After that it might sign cooperation agreements with the Socialists, Communists, Social Democrats, etc., within the framework of the presidential campaign. It might make assurances and promises, and keep them. At this moment, however, shaping such a vast amorphous coalition made up of the Left and Right, with different ideologies and hoping to win the presidential elections only to end up as a split political entity, makes little sense, as far as I’m concerned. At this stage the main point is not how to come into power, but how to wield that power. A political party is an immune system capable of keeping all the dogs and pigs at a distance from the feeding trough. The kind of pragmatists currently in Leonid Kuchma’s entourage, who might well also turn up in Yushchenko’s camp, are wielding this power for their own benefit. Then we would have Yushchenko as president acting very much like his predecessor, Kuchma. This must not be allowed to happen. I would tell Yushchenko in a friendly way: Don’t run for president. It’s a heavy cross to bear. Well, we have what we have, so we can either lose or use this chance.

What are the terms for the Tymoshenko bloc’s support of Yushchenko’s candidacy?

We’ll back him if he makes the national interests a priority.

In other words, it would suffice for Yushchenko to say that the national interests are his priority?

Saying and doing are different thing. Politics means turning opportunities into a reality. We must do our utmost to make this sacred priority foremost, not portfolios and who gets what.