26 September 2008, 10:30
«Democratic coalition can not be restored, but there is hope for that» Arseniy Yatseniuk
Guest of "Vechirnia Svoboda": Arseniy Yatseniuk, Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
Vitaliy Portnykov: Arseniy Yatseniuk, Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, is our interlocutor today.
Good evening!
Arseniy Yatseniuk: Good evening, Vitaliy! Good evening, dear audience!
Vitaliy Portnykov: Total chaos seems to reign at The Verkhovna Rada. Everybody is negotiating with everyone, we see constant Brownian motion. Is it interesting to direct it?
Arseniy Yatseniuk: On the one hand, we started to adopt legislative acts. However, we used to adopt them earlier as well, except of the period when the Parliament was blocked. At present, the negotiations are unsuccessful.
Vitaliy Portnykov: Can you explain the logic of formation of the coalition between BYuT and NUNS against the background of downright exchange of offences on the part of the political leaders of both forces?
Arseniy Yatseniuk: Do you mean restoration of the coalition?
Vitaliy Portnykov: Not restoration, but a probable creation of a new coalition, with participation of The Lytvyn Bloc. It is actually a new coalition.
Arseniy Yatseniuk: It is a coalition of lost hopes. There was everything: an own President, an own Prime-Minister, an own Chairman. As far as restoration of the Coalition is concerned, the chances for that are minimal. However, hope springs eternal in the human breast, therefore, there should be an attempt to do that. In case it will be a success, I would not like to base it on the so-called "let us start a new life" arrangements.
Vitaliy Portnykov: To turn over a new leaf.
Arseniy Yatseniuk: It is impossible to turn over a new leaf. We need 2-3 full leaves of the Coalition agreement. It is necessary to define the actions clearly, to determine the ideology and responsibilities. There is no point in creating a coalition for mere holding of particular offices.
Vitaliy Portnykov: Your speech seems to be a déjà vu of those words uttered after the early parliamentary elections, as all this was declared after Viktor Yushchenko won presidential elections. Then it was already obvious that two political forces: "Our Ukraine" and BYuT and their political leaders could not work together under such a configuration of authorities.
Arseniy Yatseniuk: Well, everything in our life, as in history, is déjà vu, as everything develops due to the cyclic principle. It is important to remember the essence in these cycles. As far as the restoration of coalition and cooperation between different political leaders is concerned, it is necessary to eliminate political ambitions. However, it is virtually impossible, as the part of political leaders regards excessive political ambitions as the part of their lives. Therefore, this fact should be taken into account and regarded as reality. I remember 2 September very well. Everybody was in the state of euphoria: "It has happened! There is a megacoalition, and everything will change." However, my stance was calm and understandable. I kept saying: listen, a couple of days will pass, and this wedding will end, having not begun. I believe, this will be the outcome, as non-logical unions can not exist. They can be situational and very short, but not permanent, as they lack the ideological basis.
Vitaliy Portnykov: As far as I understand, it is you who is not willing to take part in déjà vu, as can be deduced from your words concerning a new political project. Is that right?
Arseniy Yatseniuk: The project may be formed by old good methods, and 3% may be obtained. But I do not need a personal representation in the Parliament. I do not go into politics for that.
Vitaliy Portnykov: Analysis is understandable. But the tactics of actions is not.
Arseniy Yatseniuk: The formation of a party as such has already launched. In case I see the team, the opportunity to take part in early elections, it will be done. However, pursuant to the election legislation, it is necessary to register the party one year before the date of elections. Therefore, it is the first substantial legal obstacle. Secondly, one can obtain the minimum number of voices due to ideological position and transparent politics. However, there is a world of difference between the way to obtain and to keep the voices.
Vitaliy Portnykov: Then you should personally take part in the elections and choose the political force to keep with.
Arseniy Yatseniuk: In case the bloc of democratic forces is formed, we should participate within such a bloc.
Vitaliy Portnykov: At any rate, we can not find any normal way out of the crisis. Therefore, the early elections will not become a tragedy, in case they are held. Nevertheless, the tragedy can start after the early elections, when we will face the same configuration of political forces as at present.
Arseniy Yatseniuk: There will be no tragedy. Every end forms something new. Therefore, one should not lay it on thick.