Arseniy Petrovych, when you were appointed to the position of the Chairman, the President gave the interview to the BBC and stated that you would consolidate the Parliament. It turned out quite different. What is the reason for that?
One can not unite anything without its will. Even if any alliances are concluded in the Parliament, they are temporary, as each political force lays claim to absolute, or at least, highest possible, power. My task was to make situational resolutions. And we endeavoured to find them at this cabinet virtually every day.
Do you feel hurt for the democratic coalition?
I am rather vexed. The coalition had its "own" president, its "own" prime-minister, chairman and 226 voices de jure. It requires special skills to quarrel with each other so that even not to greet one another.
But you have also voted for withdrawal from the coalition.
Everything has its beginning and its end. I will explain the reasons for my voting. After two months of negotiations, here, in this cabinet. I offered a lot of compromise variants, including the five points on rescue of the coalition. But willingness is important for achievement of the result.
At what stage are the coalition negotiations in The Verkhovna Rada?
I warned about the current situation. On 2 September we witnessed euphoria concerning the information that a new coalition from the BYuT and The Party of Regions would be formed de facto and de jure in the nearest time. The veto of the President of Ukraine imposed on a number of Laws was overcome. However, present work of the Parliament is far more dependant on the current situation than it was before 2 September.
Do you suppose that the BYuT and The Party of Regions will eventually fail to come to an agreement?
More than 20 days have passed. I would say that chances are "fifty-fifty". If they fail to come to an agreement within this week, the probability of early election will increase. However, the instinct of self-preservation will be actuated.
Who will resort to self-preservation?
Any political force is thinking of self-preservation. If the two largest factions form a megacoalition, it will be a temporary union oriented on the "who-will-swallow-up-another-one" competition. These forces face a problem of explaining the reasons for their consolidation to the people.
May Tymoshenko refuse from presidency for the benefits of arrangements with Yanukovych?
A ridiculous exchange. How can one refuse from something one does not possess? Everyone has equal chances for the president´s office. At present, there are disputes concerning the positions of Vice-Prime-Minister and Vice-Chairman. There is a classical European approach: the largest Faction forms the government and introduces a candidacy to the post of a Prime-Minister. However, Tymoshenko will never cede Prime-Minister´s position, and in case the Party of Regions consents to the position of a Chairman, they will demand such authorities of the Parliament and the Chairman that the BYuT would never gave its consent. As far as the post of a President is concerned, I believe there will be attempts to prevent holding of both presidential, and parliamentary elections. This guarantees a long work of the coalition.
So you do not believe in early presidential elections, do you?
In case the BYuT and the Party of Regions form a coalition, the question concerning presidential elections as such will arise. Such a coalition will aim at highest possible reduction of authorities of the head of the State. Therefore, the post of a President would be of little interest.
A year ago, assuming the post of a Chairman, Arseniy Yatseniuk set everybody talking of him as of a President´s favourite. Favour of Viktor Yushchenko to Arseniy Yatseniuk can be observed since 2004, when several presidential surroundings have changed. Against such a background, except of Yatseniuk, only Viktor Baloha can boast of a four-year term of steady relations with the President and rapid carrier promotion. Against the background of low ratings, the Our Ukraine and the Single Center of Yatseniuk could become a great help for the President. However, he rejects such a possibility.
You stated that your party would be financed by its members. So they are businessmen, not the ordinary people, aren´t they?
Why do you think so?
Otherwise, how will they be able to finance the party?
Financial dependence always provokes political dependence. Pay attention how the election campaign of Obama was financed (candidate for the post of the US President. Fokus). His campaign was financed due to the small voluntary donations of the citizens. He was not assisted by the financial and industrial groups.
Can you name the exact date of the start of your project?
A fortnight ago. The idea originated in June. However, I made ultimate decision a fortnight ago.
If the early elections are held, will your party take part in them?
I suppose so.
Is it true that prominent businessman Viktor Pinchuk, Kuchma´s son-in-law, and his image-makers are preparing you for the presidential elections 2014?
These are rumours, you will see the truth in actual actions.
But you go to Davos together with Pinchuk, implement common charitable and humanitarian projects.
We have perfect relations. Please understand that this was required by my job. How can I have no contact with people who represent national capital and possess substantial resources? As the minister of economy and the minister of foreign relations, I had to protect national capital. I know everybody: Akhmetov, Haiduk, Taruta, Poroshenko and others. But there is a world of difference between knowing the rich men and borrowing their money.
They say, the abovementioned sponsors have already formed a queue to you.
Really? Have you seen a queue in my reception room? (Laughing)
If anyone made you an offer, would you refuse?
What is the point for Rynat Akhmetov to finance me? He has the Party of Regions, his electors and responsibilities. After all, he has Raisa Bohatyriova who can go her own independent way. Why does he need Arseniy Yatseniuk? He is not a Santa Claus to dispense money. Moreover, I am not a pauper who extends his hand for help. They name different cost of election campaign 100-300 million. However, the more money is spent for election campaign, the more is stolen during this campaign. I tell this as a former banker. We will collect money publicly, including the SMS-method. Then we will publish the list of contributors. In case people are not willing to have any changes, they will have a possibility to vote for anybody, as the old layout of parties remains.
Don´t you think that after the elections, The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine will be similar to the previous one?
Why? Mandates will be reallocated after a new election campaign. I suppose that success of the megaparties is dubious. In Ukraine, a party can not obtain more than 35%. Two parties the Party of Regions and the BYuT reached this peak. They are to keep this electoral rating, which is fairly complicated. Their political opponents are, in their turn, to pinch off the electors from these giants.
Two years ago, Fokus declared Arseniy Yatseniuk to be the most promising young Ukrainian politician, and predicted his presidency in 2014. Due to the data of he National Institute of Statistical Research, present-day personal presidential rating of Yatseniuk totals 5,5%. In the next year, Yatseniuk will be 35. Starting from this age, a citizen of Ukraine can run for president. Immediately on his appointment to the post of a chairman, members of The Verkhovna Rada started talking that Yatseniuk was reared as a successor of Yushchenko.
«I see that you want to shorten my political life. How can I be a successor!» laughed Yatseniuk in his interview to Focus in the end of February. However, he regarded his personal political projects as " too early" at that time.
To tell the truth, do you prepare for the presidential elections?
No.
Why?
Because others prepare for them.
What about your political project?
This project is parliamentary, not presidential.
Some people believe that your participation in presidential elections is already a determined fact. At present, new candidates appeared. For instance, your colleague Hrytsenko.
It is right. I support it. Let everybody run for president. This is a wise decision. We will have a choice. But I participate only in realistic projects.
This issue of Fokus will be published on Friday. Will political situation change till that time?
I suppose, little will change till Friday. This will continue till 3 October day of the dissolution of The Verkhovna Rada. Though it is also not clear whether it should be 3 or 16 October. As a lawyer, I believe that 16 October is the correct date: counting from the date when collapse of the coalition was officially declared.
Will dissolution eliminate political crisis?
It is already eliminated. The leaf is turned. Both early elections, and another coalition, are new pages of history.
Yatseniuk says that he will find an occupation on leaving the cabinet of the chairman. Apart from the political project, Yatseniuk has occupations for pleasure.
My first dream is to study French. My mother is a teacher of French. This is the biggest family scandal: why do I not master this language by now? My second dream is to learn to play the piano. My wife taught me a little this summer. Now I will have plenty of time.