Petro Symonenko Suspects They Want To Smother Him in Their Embrace

One hates to sound banal, but the organizers and performers of the Man of the Year political show tried so hard to refute the adage about holding a feast during a year of cholera that their efforts had precisely the opposite effect. While one can always understand actors and journalists remaining true to their professional selves — one always needs publicity and sponsorship along and information and good stories for every occasion, even in a most relaxed atmosphere. Still, the sight of the President leading the business, political, and bureaucratic beau monde letting their hair down must have raised eyebrows among the people.

On the other hand, considering that Left leaders, laureates Petro Symonenko and Oleksandr Tkachenko (plus nominee Oleksandr Moroz), are the Men of the Year, the logical question is, perhaps the show might better be named “President of the Year,” and the President simply did not get the gist of it?

The Day’s Tetiana KOROBOVA called Petro Symonenko, one of the laureates who did not attend the ceremony.

Q: Would you agree that any contests, and prizes have the right to exist? There are fat cats who have everything, yet they want to be in charge, decide others’ destinies, promote, and demote, and do all this on the largest possible scale. Well, why not let them have their fun, especially if they foot the bill? But staging such shows on a nationwide scale, presenting them as Events in the upper case, with live coverage, top political leadership present in full splendor, and all this before millions of hungry, desperate, and disillusioned eyes? Isn’t this unjust and inhuman?

A: Every sober-minded individual realizes that in such top-level contests the winners are determined using the principle “he that pays calls the tune.” Hence the popular attitude to the event: a feast during the plague. They are trying to pose as a new elite. There is no elite. In almost every nomination — Banker, Businessman, and so on (I mean those supposed to acknowledge personal merits) — we have only failures. Everything there spells genocide, bloodshed, and hopeless mass impoverishment.

Q: Speaking of this particular occasion, what do you think those in power were actually after by placing you among the laureates?

A: Why not ask them? As for our attitude to the whole thing, it was a step they had to make, and it reflected current political realities. It further testified to the growing influence of the Communist Party on public life and the political process. It was inevitable, because acknowledging any other political force would cast a heavy shadow of doubt on the whole undertaking.

Q: Well, fine. The other nominees were Mr. Medvedchuk and that most businesslike lawmaker Surkis. Of course, who else? Excuse me, maybe I missed the point, but from what you have just said it would seem to follow that a nationwide event involving the President had to serve as evidence of the Communist Party’s growing prestige. Because of your consistent struggle against that criminal regime and anti-people course, is that right?

A: I understand everything, including what you write in your newspaper about their allegedly striving to benefit from having a pair of candidates get through to the second tour. They are playing their own game, molding a certain climate of public opinion, including among the Left. Whatever they say about the Presidential Administration’s role in my being named Politician of the Year, I still think that they just had to acknowledge the role of the Communist Party which is the leading political force in society.

Q: The thing is that many saw your nomination and award as a provocation, rather than acknowledgment, but you know better, of course. The President was totally unprepared for your absence in the audience and it was clearly written on his face as he appeared on the stage... Personally, I think you should have attended. It was an excellent opportunity to show the whole thing for what it really was in front of millions watching it on at home. You would have reduced that show to powder. It would have made scandals and headlines the world over. Besides, this would have rid you of all the other Left contenders, for the issue of a single candidate would have been automatically solved. Why didn’t you?

A: Attending that show was unacceptable to me. No matter what I would have said or how I would have exposed them for what they really are, I could not do it. Besides, our society will form its own opinion of the event, for people watched it for five hours on television and there is the media’s attitude. As I have pointed out on more than one occasion, the powers that be act on the principle “reign a little, steal a little, and get out while we can.”

As for the elections, we are aware of the high political value of this year. We organize and hold consultations. Regrettably, our allies now and then come out with statements about a single candidate playing into the President’s hands. Oleksandr Moroz said so at a news conference, but without consulting us.

Q: Perhaps as your fellow nominee he simply came to an agreement, realizing that the regime and sponsors had chosen you to serve their campaign intrigues.

A: That’s a question for them. I am not making any guesses. We will just pursue our course consistently regardless of any allegations.

Q: Oleksandr Tkachenko did not attend either, thus showing his attitude toward the show under the President’s auspices. The Speaker had on previous occasions spoken rather sharply about such “nationwide” contests. Those in power are having a ball, the Left points accusing fingers. Whose stand is closer to the people? Two guesses?... By the way, if Oleksandr Tkachenko makes up his mind to join the campaign who do you think will side with whom: he with you or you with him?

A: We are not playing guessing games. When a certain situation arises, then we can discuss it.

INCIDENTALLY

The Day also asked Communist Viktor PONEDILKO to share his impression:

“I think that the biggest blunder was when the President stepped on-stage to invite all those present to Oleksandr Tkachenko’s birthday party. The way it looked, the Speaker, now Statesman of the Year, was so busy with pressing national issues he had to send Leonid Kuchma, his second-in-command, to deliver the invitation. This, of course, is both funny and embarrassing.