Original article in Ukrainian by Yana Viktorovych, Ukrayinska Pravda
Just a year ago the Party of Regions (PRU) seemed to be completely ruined. Oppositionist Viktor Yanukovych was still as a mouse, Borys Kolesnikov was doing his term in pre-trial detention facility, Rynat Akhmetov “rested” in Monaco and Yevhen Kushnaryov suffered from hyperpiesis even thinking of the charges of separatism against him.
A year passed. PRU is not the opposition but a parliamentary majority. They do not fear hell and Yanukovych has got all chances to chair the government again.
Just a week ago PRU blocked the Verkhovna Rada and tried to get even the smallest token of power the coalition could surrender them.
A week passed. Now Yanukovych is ready to give the same committees to the orange opposition.
Last Saturday PRU called for actions of civil disobedience if the orange coalition keeps violating human right, legislation and the Constitution of Ukraine.
This Saturday PRU is holding an all-national meeting and wants Yushchenko to immediately bring in the nomination of Yanukovych for the PM for parliament’s approval.
***
10 a.m. Parking spot at the Palace Ukrayina is packed with cars and buses with PRU symbolism. Special police squad Berkut is having rest in the shadow. Some Anti-Crime Committee, standing under the picture of a mob boss, is distributing yellow-and-blue toy balloons and singing songs of Yanukovych’s criminal youth. In some meters you enter ‘a maximum security institution’.
A journalist is arguing with the security guard who makes her have a pass badge on the chest (she can not just hold in her arms). At the far end of the hall security is checking MPs’ bags.
Olena Lukash and Tetyana Zasukha are opening their vanities to prove they are not going to murder Viktor Yanukovych, Oleksandr Moroz and Petro Symonenko.
Unfortunately we failed to watch the latter going through security line. The leaders came through the back door accompanied by shouts of joy from the group with blue-and-white flags.
Viktor Yanukovych is shoulder-to-shoulder with Oleksandr Moroz. Rayisa Bohatyryova, Nina Karpachova, Valentyna Dovzhenko and Leonid Kravchuk stay behind.
 |
| What fine fellows we are! |
Moroz is hiding his eyes from the journalists; Karpachova is telling her company that everything is going to be just fine this time.
Nestor Shufrych is also in the hall. SDPU wants to get the power back. Even pale and sick Kyiv ex-mayor Oleksandr Omelchenko came to the meeting. There are lots of ‘political corpses’ who want to get back to power.
 |
| Nestor Shufrych: “Well, what do they have to offer?” |
 |
| Azarov to Omelchenko: “Man, I can’t promise anything” |
Yanukovych, Moroz and Kravchuk take their places in presidium followed by Bohatyryova, Rybak, Kyrychenko, Bohuslayev, Karpachova, Azarov, Dovzhenko, Kushnaryov and Symonenko.
It is interesting that according to the agenda Yuri Yekhanurov was to attend the meeting.
Most probably the negotiations concerning broad coalition have not yet come to the stage that will allow Yekhanurov to join presidium of this Noah’s Ark.
It was quite a typical meeting. The leader and the guests (Moroz and Kravchuk) made their speeches. The one who has made his speech does not listen to other orators.
 |
| Yanukovych got bored |
Although the meeting was held under the slogan of “Let’s unite Ukraine” the prospects of a new coalition predominated in the speeches.
“We have gathered here in a difficult and decisive time for Ukraine. After two years of a permanent political crisis, split in the society, hopes and disappointment Ukraine has finally got the chance for a better life,” Yanukovych says in his opening statement.
“To achieve that, we had to go through a difficult way of dramatic challenges of political maturity, public courage and personal honesty. We survived. Our fight was not easy…
…on the evening of July 6 2006 Ukraine faced a new historical stage in its development which was broken in fall 2004.
…We were not surprised at what had happened”
 |
| Oh, dearie, you saved me. |
Well, it is difficult to imagine that the entire Party of Regions had a hunch at 9 p.m. having voted for Moroz and having completely forgotten about their candidate.
But PRU MPs state such idea popped into their heads in the process of voting with just two candidates – Moroz and Azarov.
“We knew that part of socialists would refuse to vote for Poroshenko and we hoped they would back Azarov,” they claim.
Moroz also told his own story of the speaker’s election.
“The idea of a broad coalition is the idea of reconciliation of the East and the West,” said Moroz.
 |
| Moroz: “Only SPU can be consolidating force in the political process” |
“Someone is speculating over SPU position and my position in particular. Having had over 200 meetings with voters I said that both sides had its arguments and only SPU could be a consolidating element between them. The step we made the day before yesterday proves that…
…We have stopped an intrigue that lasted for more than two months. We stopped it legally and openly.
Indeed we stood for the coalition of democratic forces which in course of time had to turn into a broad coalition. I saw that one political force wanted to form such broad coalition simultaneously wiping out its competitors and making then socialists to blame. (Audience laughs)
Since it was so evident I came up to Viktor Fedorovych and told him: “I see this intrigue seems to be eternal but we have a voting for the Verkhovna Rada speaker. If you don’t mind (you lack voices for your nomination) would you please back our nomination?” revealed Moroz.
At that time Yanukovych was looking at him hardly resisting laughter. Oleksandr Moroz kept on giving away the show.
“He (Yanukovych) sank into reverie and only few of us knew what decision he had taken up,” noted Moroz accompanied by a chorus of load laughter.
 |
| Azarov is greeted for a courageous deed |
The issue of speaker’s election was again mentioned at the press conference held by Yanukovych. A journalist of 1+1 TV Channel asked Yanukovych if it was true that PRU had paid SPU the sum of USD 83 million so that the latter join the coalition.
Viktor Fedorovych immediately grew serious, he frowned and began telling things he always tells when asked undesirable questions.
“I will tell you one thing: those who failed to do something useful in their lives, those who drag the country through the mud have no future. Evil comes from everywhereness. It harms people. Evil people have no future,” responded Yanukovych to a very specific question.
However, in some minutes he burst in laughter and said he was not afraid of parliament dissolution. Yanukovych also stated he met the president and that the coalition was opened for other political forces. He said there could be no other nomination for the PM but Viktor Fedorovych Yanukovych. PRU leader is ready to be responsible for his every word in the government.
Yanukovych also said he was going to celebrate his 56th birthday in the family circle. Well, he is likely to dream of a present form the president in the form of bringing in his nomination for parliament’s approval.
As to the top slogan of the meeting “Let’s Unite Ukraine”, the discussion was held in the format of ‘bustards that don’t let us live normally’. The participants of the meeting were happy at the failure of the ‘orange’ and ‘the end of an orange nightmare’. They promised to unite a ‘torn apart country’.
 |
| Petro Symonenko: “The Orange are doomed” |
As it turned out Moroz and Yanukovych agreed even on Maidan issue.
“When we spoke about Maidan with Viktor Fedorovych it turned out we had common viewpoints. Maidan was a kind of purification of the society since people promoted different slogans and liberties,” Moroz addressed the audience.
Viktor Yanukovych added: “Revolution is over. So are the rallies and protest actions. It is history now. Now it is time to work and to make friends with people.”
Now he will:
- support national producer, Ukrainian science and culture
- decrease tax pressure
- guarantee security of private property and make re-privatization impossible.
- separate business and authorities by avoiding conflicts of interests.
- adopt anti-corrupt legislation
- adopt legislation of the home and foreign policy of Ukraine
- make foreign policy more tolerant and less ambitious
- and the most important issue: normalize relations with Russia.
“Unfortunately I am short of time to give a detailed description of our anti-crisis plan. But I can say we do have such a plan and we are ready to immediately implement it,” said Yanukovych.
 |
| What do you think, shall we make it? |
Now PRU has just to persuade the president to bring in the nomination of Viktor Yanukovych for the Prime Minister and to enlist a couple of MPs from BYuT and Our Ukraine Block (NU) just to be absolutely self-confident. What if Moroz turns orange again?
 |
| And the last thing. Yanukovych had this paper during the whole meeting. Here is every word he has to say. Even ‘thank you’. And even the result of the voting. |
All photos by Anna Andriyevska
