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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

Speaker Hrach Gets the Better of Hrach in Opposition

13 November, 2012 - 00:00

The Crimean Communist Party held its plenary meeting last Saturday which stood out of the ordinary, because journalists were admitted, although it transpired later that this gesture should not be regarded as an overly democratic one.

It was precisely that Comrade Leonid Hrach once again showed that he was a smart operator, figuring that he stood a fair chance of being quartered by his older Parteigenossen if heard behind closed doors. His report called “For the Victory of Common Sense and Democracy” tried to offer a strategy of staying in opposition while being in power. One of his clauses, “Consolidation in the Name of Unity,” brought forth catcalls from the audience, even though Comrade Hrach made a special point which could not but please the Communist ear: “The Communists can and must stand at the head of the democratic movement in Ukraine and consolidate this society.” But then the veteran Parteigenossen asked themselves who they would have to unify and with whom. Their class enemies? Prof. Kazarin of Simferopol University reminded the audience that getting the Ukrainian President impeached come September was the key motto during the elections and that now the subject seemed shelved. Comrade Vasylenko, another People's Deputy, declared that this plenary meeting was a “landmark” because Comrade Hrach's idea actually boiled down to “sheathing our swords.”

In fact, what Leonid Hrach and his supporters tried to get across was that the Communist Party has already discarded its orthodox approach – as evidenced by its acceptance of the multi-structured economy. Also, that all those small and medium businesses and domestic producers, being strangled by excess taxes and overall corruption, could be “persuaded to side with us and help us expand the CPU's social basis.” And, of course, that the classical provisos of Marxism-Leninism should be adjusted to present realities...

Interesting, because Communist adepts usually come up with such “progressive ideas” whenever there is a degree of rapprochement between the opposition and the authorities. For here one is always tempted to single out “certain aspects” to make certain functionaries more comfortable in their office – you can always be supplied with “scientific” reasons that will soothe your conscience. And we have seen the Right opposition following this procedure, have we not?

In Comrade Hrach's opinion, the country is now passing through a “sensitive period” – transition from opposition to the fulfillment of campaign promises. Considering that the Reds do not possess all power, only fragments thereof, they must get “consolidated” with all the other “healthy forces” of Ukrainian society.

Casting aside all this party verbiage, one must admit that their “common sense” is Comrade Hrach's having waited so long to get back to his office, a thorny and winding road. He had to quit as First Secretary of the Regional Committee in August 1991. So now he is all set to get the post and hold on tight to it. Understandable from a general human point of view. But the only reaction to all this talk about altering opposition strategy, Marxist-Leninist adjustments, and a case study in applying Lenin's New Economic Policy is best summed up: “Aw, cut it out!”

Perhaps it is a pity that President Kuchma did not find it in himself to get Comrade Petro Symonenko elected as the new Speaker. World experience shows that opposition can prove the counterweight to bring down with a bang anyone reaching too high up the hierarchical ladder. If he did, the Crimean Communists would not be the only one to hold their plenum, sharing responsibility with the government in view of the next presidential campaign, “understanding that the current situation is verging on national disaster,” and would perhaps seek an understanding with other political forces to switch from opposition to an active creative process. As it is, the Crimean CP plenum confirmed that the Left opposition, headed by Comrade Hrach, is unable to act creatively under Speaker Leonid Hrach.

Hence the big question: Does not Comrade Hrach want to after the Party's cause? Prof. Kazarin suggested that the posts of Party leader and Speaker be strictly delimited found no support, but it sounded very symptomatic.

Photo by Oleksiy Stasenko, The Day:

Leonid Hrach who is adapting communist ideology to the realities of his own life

 

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