We need a “national team.” Any candidates?

Vadym KARASIOV, political scientist; director, Institute of Global Strategies:

“The main problem in the formation of an anti-crisis government is not people, candidatures, but ideas and functions. What ideas should motivate the new Cabinet? In my view, it is the idea of national unity and people’s trust. While national unity symbolizes the imperative of the preservation of statehood and national consolidation, people’s trust embodies confidence in the government on the part of society, the public, and people. As we are in a crisis of statehood, it is not enough to have a coalition Cabinet that includes representatives of both the opposition and the ruling party and enjoys the trust of parliament. The new government must enjoy the trust of society as a whole and cross the limits of parliamentary combinations and configurations.

“Hence follows a second point. It is not people that matters, but functions. You may appoint the most peaceful ‘dove’ as interior minister and oust ‘hawk generals and colonels’ from the uniformed services, including riot police, but the question of public and parliamentary control over the army, police, and the entire security sector will remain open. So, before starting the game and considering various models of government formation, it is necessary to set a pattern of government that is easy-to-understand and acceptable to the entire country, not only to the elites and parliament. This is the first and foremost prerequisite. Then, as we apply this method, we will work out the parameters and criteria of a new Cabinet of Ministers. This concept does not necessarily presume that there should be a parliament-based (consisting of parliamentary factions’ representatives) or an opposition-based government only. This Cabinet should gather the best, the most professional, and the most authoritative politicians and experts who can ensure – at the level of parliament and, what is more, the executive branch – national unity and a continuous dialog with society, which may eventually evoke public trust.

“This scenario seems unrealistic so far, but, in politics, one should always look beyond the existing conditions. In politics, the winner is always the one who plays in the genre of realistic utopia. At first this seems utopian, only to become realistic some time later.

“Following this vector, it is possible to choose candidates from the public or parliamentary milieu and form a caretaker provisional Cabinet. With due account of the dramatic events now underway in Ukraine, the word ‘provisional’ does not imply the extension of ministerial duties – it means that this country should preserve unity and the ability of people to influence public administration at this very dramatic moment.

“Names are the question of roundtables, public debates, ratings, etc. Ukraine does not lack people who deserve to be represented in this government. The question is that this idea should begin to conquer the masses and be high on the agenda of various talks if not as a magical trick then at least as a chance to get a trump card that will let Ukraine step back from the worst scenarios and really pave the way to go or, to be more exact, to crawl out of the present-day whirlpool of confliction and hostility. The economy is by no means the matter of a new government’s primary concern. They are to be really concerned about not so much politics as the state – they will have to stop the collapse of statehood and the dangerous processes of disintegration, fragmentation and disappearance of the Ukraine we knew and loved. Naturally, this also involves the solution of a number of fundamental economic and social problems. But the main task of any governmental institution is to protect people and keep Ukraine intact.”

Oleksii KUCHERENKO, ex-governor of Zaporizhia oblast; ex-minister for public utilities:

“I am personally concerned about where the president will be taking people for a new government. In 2001 I was dismissed as governor for ‘free thinking,’ so I came back to the Verkhovna Rada. I immediately asked myself: ‘What is going on here?’ I was told that there were 450 MPs, including at least 15 potential premiers, 50 vice-premiers, and 450 ministers. Moreover, asked if they want to be a minister, they will say ‘yes’ at once and only then inquire which ministry is being offered. This is not normal.

“The president is facing a serious problem. I personally think it is difficult to find people in the current government’s reference frame, who really want to change this country for the better. It is still more difficult to recruit new specialists. For the one who really knows about an issue will be aware of the challenges he faces. There is a lot of extremely hard work to do.

“I think the gravest danger today is that the Cabinet still has the old ministers with an old set of tasks. This will only result in a worse economic and political situation in the country. Under these conditions [if the government still keeps the old ministers with an outdated mindset. – Ed.], the president will find no sound-minded people who would agree to serve in the government.

“What we see now is an act of bargaining – behind the scenes, much to our regret. For this reason, I personally expect no ‘breakthrough’ from a new ‘backstage government.’

“I would be pleased to become an advisor to a wise president or a wise premier. But I can see neither of them. So I will stand aside for the time being.”

Volodymyr LANOVY, ex-minister of economy of Ukraine:

“The first step the new government must take is to reduce and make controllable the outstanding public debt. For it is hanging over us like the sword of Damocles, and Putin is taunting Ukraine, thinking whether or not to give her money. And the widely-held belief is that nobody but Russia will save us. It is necessary to devise and bring into play a mechanism to remove the debt noose from the Ukrainian economy’s neck – this is the first step the new government must make to improve the situation in the economy, the budget, and taxation, and, hence, to keep people undisturbed. It is a very difficult problem. But it can be resolved even without Russian assistance. Moreover, it must be solved so that we never again become dependent on Russia.

“The new Cabinet should be a government of reformers and experts whom the Maidan will entrust carrying out reforms and revitalizing the economy – above all, those who would rev up small- and medium-scale businesses. They are supposed to:

♦ repeal the Tax Code;

♦ change the conditions of governmental support for business;

♦ make it possible to credit small- and medium-scale businesses;

♦ reduce and restructure the public debt in order to restore the financial balance.

“It is also necessary to solve such structural problems as resuming integration into the EU, restoring parliamentarianism in Ukraine, and introducing special corruption control mechanisms, with participation of the public. We must solve the problem of money markets without direct emission of money; draw up new election laws, in particular, change the role of police in the elections so that policemen really maintain order during the vote; and, of course, restrict the president’s powers. Local government and a decentralized budget is also an important issue.

“The new government is to carry out new reforms so that people can regain the right to own the property they were unlawfully deprived of by state-run businesses. The solution of this problem will help the state settle its hard-currency and debt issues.

“The people in the new government should be, above all, representatives of civil society, independent experts and specialists rather than political scientists and spin masters. The expert community is the main source of forming a new effective government. Will the president use this? I doubt that he knows about this source at all. His main concern today is to reach a compromise with parliamentary factions. The president has no other problems so far. At least, it looks so.

“I am only prepared to work in a government of duly authorized reformers. There can be different offices. I am not yearning for offices, but in any case I will be able to work at a place where I can follow my line. As a matter of fact, my firm position was the reason why I was once thrown out of the government.”