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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

MATCH OF ELECTORAL TECHNOLOGIES

12 October, 1999 - 00:00

Not only sportive but also political ambitions run high in Ukraine in connection with the Ukraine vs. Russia soccer match, 20 days before the presidential elections. The Moscow game will have “a political hue, there's no denying it,” Jozsef Szabo, chief coach of the Ukrainian national team, said at a press conference last Tuesday.

Ukrainian political scientists also point out that this match will be a powerful test of election technologies. “Ukraine's victory of Ukraine will stir up an emotional upsurge capable of making certain changes in the consciousness of the electorate. Especially in such a poor country which has nothing to boast of but sports. Clearly, success will be put down to the President,” said Mykola Tomenko, director of the Institute of Politics before the match.

“One can understand president of the Soccer Federation, Prime Minister Valery Pustovoitenko, who is now working rather actively for the victory of the Ukrainian squad. For so much is put at stake,” says Mr. Tomenko. A few days ago Mr. Pustovoitenko instructed the chiefs of Mr. Kuchma's five election headquarters, as well as several ministries and state committees, “to ensure the presence of 10,000 Ukrainian fans in Moscow, taking into account great interest in soccer,” according to Tomenko.

The political scientist says all efforts have now been thrown to effectively utilize the 1-hour-45-minute TV prime-time “to campaign for the No. 1 presidential candidate.”

The Day is not ending the debate here. We are waiting for your proposals and opinions on this problem. Write to us: 2L, Marshal Tymoshenko Street, Kyiv-212, 04212, marking the envelope with “Soccer and Politics.” E-mail: master@day.kiev.ua. Internet:

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