Mykola Tomenko: Election Campaign shall be concerned with the Future of Ukraine, not the Surnames of the Candidates for Presidency
On Wednesday, 21 October, Mykola Tomenko, Vice-Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, met Jerzy Szmajdziński, Vice-Marshal of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland.
The participants of the meeting discussed a number of issues concerning Parliament´s work, esp. enhancement of cooperation between the groups of friendship Ukraine-Poland, political aspect of the start of election campaign, strategic partnership and matters related to the preparation to the holding of Euro-2012.
M.Tomenko informed his Polish colleague about unblocking of the Ukrainian Parliament´s work, and briefed on the Bills adopted lately. He believes that "no resolution of reforming nature will be adopted at the Parliament before the end of the elections". He also predicts that the State Budget for 2010 will not be adopted before the presidential elections.
The Vice-Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine informed about the adoption of the law on elections to the local councils scheduled for 30 May 2010, and the launch of the presidential election campaign in Ukraine.
The Vice-Chairman reminded of the fact that the rate of pledge to be made by the candidates for presidency was increased to UAH 2.5 million on his initiative.
M.Tomenko believes that such a measure will reduce the number of candidates at least by two times. The number of candidates under the conditions of the former rate of pledge of UAH 500 thousand could reach 30 persons, however, at present it will not exceed 15 persons.
Moreover, according to the Vice-Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the funds of all the candidates will fill the budget, except of those coming into the second round. "At least something will be done for the sake of Ukrainian people", - he stressed.
M.Tomenko deems necessary to alter "the rhetoric of the election campaign". "If the campaign is dirty, the electors will ignore the elections, - he stated. The campaign shall be constructive".
The Vice-Chairman believes that the election campaign shall be concerned with the future of Ukraine, not the surnames of the candidates for presidency. "It is necessary to secure stability and order in the country, otherwise we will have the President, having destroyed the country", - stated M.Tomenko.
In his turn, Jerzy Szmajdziński, Vice-Marshal of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland, stated that "parliamentary or presidential elections either in Poland or in Ukraine can not be easy". He stated that electoral headquarters used different dirty technologies, being convinced that "the sharply they play, the better for the candidate". He believes that the politicians shall be concerned with the economy and the situation in the country. "The winner may obtain a totally destructed country", - stressed Jerzy Szmajdziński.
The Vice-Marshal of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland also stressed that Ukraine had always been and would remain a strategic partner of Poland. In view of the upcoming EURO-2012, he wished that Ukraine overcame all the obstacles and participated in the championship jointly with Poland in 4х4 format. In his turn, the Vice-Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine stressed the necessity of "preventing political discussions around the EURO-2012 championship".