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Sergiy Lyovochkin: The PoR: new ideological and value prospects
05.05.2008, 10:21
Remarks to the Party of Regions' new Program
Nowadays many Ukrainian public and political figures, political scientists, economists estimating the state of affairs existent in the country use terms "crisis", "recession", "uncertainty" with increasing frequency. Indeed, occasions for optimism are becoming more rare. In no way can the country get out of the lingering political crisis.
For the second year the legislative branch has been functioning in a mode of artificial paralysis. Legally disputable drafts or frankly populist initiatives are put on the Parliament's agenda, adoption of the acts important for social and economic development of the country being foiled and blockaded.
It seems that even having received a mandate of trust from the voters, some members of parliament have not become really elected representatives of the people. They have remained a mere "number" in a voting list.
Unfortunately, it is far from being surprising. The Party of Regions has repeatedly warned that the parliamentary majority formed on the basis of voting expediency, not even political, is unable to function. Our worst fears are confirmed: "the most democratic" coalition members keep pursuing the election campaign logic, winning for its political force a suitable bridge-head to launch a new "electoral race".
As a result, not a year has passed since the pre-term parliamentary elections, and we hear about the temporal nature of current Parliament again.
The executive power undergoes purposeful and destructive influence. Today the state governance system resembles a chess-board, and public officials look like mere chess-men skillfully manipulated by political grand masters. On this arena the ruling coalition leaders play a sophisticated gambit. A winner will gain total control over the state decision-making process.
In fact, the country is moving without direction. The public policy has lost its integrity and consistency. It has turned into a collection of "campaigns" focused on reinforcing the image and raising the rating of a well-known political force.
A surge of struggle for the authority and credentials threatens to expand from the center to the local level. The first step on this way has been already made. Under pressure of a certain political force Verkhovna Rada, without legal basis thereto, made it possible to revise the results of the direct people's will in Kyiv.
If this practice spreads, politics in the country will get out of hand completely.
The quality of the present authorities has mainly predetermined the today's extremely intricate social and economic situation.
The Party of Regions, as a responsible political force, has warned that the political crisis inspired in 2007 and blockading the government work would entail grave economic consequences.
It seems that the coalition founders brought to power this method of government through crises. Instead of elaborating consecutive and balanced economic policy they preferred to content themselves with a range of declarative wishes and populist moves. It led to hyperinflation and rise in prices, a slowdown in economic growth and a real threat of an acute financial and economic crisis in the middle of the year.
The current government seems just not to know what to do in such a situation. It tries its hardest to hide economic failures behind harsh and political statements and initiatives bearing conflict.
Although the state of affairs in the Ukrainian society causes the main anxiety. In the light of an endless political struggle and steep worsening of the economic situation the Ukrainians have turned out to be confused. The society experiences growing concern, misunderstanding and worries over the future.
However, instead of introducing a clear-cut and upright economic policy to gain support of the Ukrainians, the government and the coalition are resorting to "forbidden methods" more often. They are trying to guarantee the stability of their electorate through emphasizing social, cultural, ethnic distinctions.
"New centrism" and promotion of nation-wide priorities
The Party of Regions has always been a party of pragmatists and professionals. At the congress the Party's Leader declared once again that the Party of Regions is ready to "offer up a shoulder" and present an effective strategy for governance over the Ukrainian economy as well as its reforming.
Although, it does not mean that the Party of Regions deem itself a "fire team" which does not propose long-term aims and benchmarks to the society.
I consider that at its latest congress the Party's Leader managed to suggest new ideological and value benchmarks.
It is obvious for any sensible politician that nationalism and social populism are utterly inadmissible to be presented in the society. The political history of the country, public polls and intellectual search for the national idea over the last years have testified to it. The society and elites take hard a lack of strategic aims of development, unifying ideology, nation-wide symbols and moral authorities.
The Party of Regions members suggested their reply during the congress. In my opinion, a clear and timely one. At the congress the Party's Leader introduced an ideology of "new centrism" and a course on promoting valid, nation-wide priorities and values. In fact, the Party members presented the vision, basing on which the Party of Regions should launch a public dialogue with all key forces within the Ukrainian society and within the Ukrainian politics.
Establishing a modern and efficient political organization
The Party of Regions is the largest political force. At the same time the Party of Regions has the most considerable reserve to mobilize its inner potential. Nowadays the Party of Regions has all prerequisites to perform a transition from quantitative increase in the number of Party members to establishing a modern and efficient political organization. In my opinion, the Party of Regions is ready to extend its presence in the social and political sphere, information sector, in the area of asserting rights and freedoms of citizens and developing local self-government bodies.
The congress showed the Party's readiness for organizational restructuring and program reforming. I believe that while updating the Party Program and Statute we succeeded in avoiding formal and bureaucratic rituals and we managed to develop effective instruments that provide new political dynamics for the activity of the largest political party of Ukraine.
Mastering a political leadership style, the ability to pursue a program policy and conduct a public dialogue both at the national and regional levels are key priorities to be ensured by the upgraded program offered by the Party's Leader at the congress.
The Party's new challenges
I believe that nowadays the Party of Regions declares quite reasonably its key role in the country's politics. It is confirmed not only by the vast amount of our adherents who devotedly support our political force but who have high hopes for us to improve the situation in the state.
The sad experience of crises and political confrontation testify only to one thing: it is impossible to pursue the path of democracy and reforms without the Party of Regions. And the processes we observe now are all squabble and backstairs deals. I do not bring myself to call it politics.
To put it otherwise, without the Party of Regions the only result that can be achieved is a public split and social and economic collapse. The BYUT and "NU-NS" coalition's attempt to stew in their own juice, getting cut off from the real problems that Ukraine is facing at the moment, has showed how dangerous may be political self-admiration and narcissism.
The Party of Regions has always declared its willingness to conduct an open political dialogue. Such position allowed us to form the most stable parliamentary coalition over the whole history of independence and engage in fruitful work many extra-parliamentary parties while we were in power.
Unfortunately, imperfection of the Ukrainian political system imposes considerable curbs on the broad social and political consensus that will guarantee the long-term stability and robust economic growth.
Institutionally disconnected state administration, blurred jurisdiction of different branches of power that repeatedly create a legitimacy conflict between Verkhovna Rada, the government and the President put favorable grounds for political plotting. Under such conditions the tools for control are applied for blockading the work, the balance of plenary powers is used for diluting political responsibility, and prospects of the country and political alliances are measured in months rather than years. And permanent reloading in the form of early elections will hardly help in trouble.
That is why we promote the most rapid improvement of the political system and accomplishment of the constitutional reform. The Party of Regions urges to develop parliamentarism as an effective method for coordinating interests and positions existent in the Ukrainian society. Monopolization of power, establishment of political dictate in any form equals to a verdict on the Ukrainian state.
The country requires a lean, disciplined administrative vertical axis as well. The state of affairs, in which the administration policy outweighs the responsibility for making and implementing decisions is inadmissible. A government official who has to consider contrary directions from rival centers cannot be effective.
An issue of principle is to empower local self-government. It will prevent the monopoly of the authorities, whether that is presidential or premier authoritarianism, parliamentary latitude or anarchy, which have already become a sad tradition.
The Party of Regions is ready to participate in a full-fledged governance, in forming responsible and efficient authorities which will not hide its aspirations and intentions from the society.
To achieve the set goals the Party of Regions will cooperate with all political parties. We are not constrained with the chains of prejudice and are not prone to political narcissism. However, as it was said by the Party's Leader in his speech at the congress, we do not have the same way as demagogues and adventurers who will try to use our potential for their mercenary benefit. | |
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