There is no need to say that the discussion of the values is extremely important in our society. Both politicians and media realized it; however, they avoid such discussions. It is risky since there are a lot of pitfalls in the Ukrainian value issues. That is why it is more advantageous to skim the surface. It is more advantageous to criticize the authorities on every occasion. What is next? What is the alternative? Do the opposition politicians have this alternative?
Den performed as a certain mediator between the opposition leaders and representatives of the public society and offered them the discussion ground “New Agenda: Opposition and Society.” The announced roundtable was held in Den’s office with the participation of UDAR leader Vitali Klitschko; Valentyn Nalyvaichenko, chairman of Our Ukraine’s Political Council; Andrii Senchenko, member of the Fatherland Party (unfortunately, none of the representatives of the party Front for Change that had initially confirmed their participation could come).
Public institutions were represented by Volodymyr Viatrovych (historian, NGO “SAM”), Ihor Kohut (chairman of the Council, Laboratory for Legislative Initiatives), Ihor Lutsenko (head of the NGO “For the Preservation of Old Kyiv”), Ostap Kryvdyk (political expert, activist), and Svitlana Zalishchuk (founder of the CHESNO social movement).
“While organizing this roundtable we thought that in order to change the quality of power we should change the opposition beforehand or, at least, influence it,” Larysa Ivshyna, editor-in-chief of Den emphasized in her opening speech. “On the other hand, we should help the opposition since except for the connection the modern opposition has to have with the authorities by putting pressure upon them and offering alternatives, it certainly has to communicate with the society through the new public institutions and media. Our today’s conversation will give the opposition representatives the opportunity to tell the society about the country they want to live in.”
Here are several quotes of the politicians from the conversation that lasted over two hours and proved that the dialogue between the opposition and the public society was very timely. The utterances of our young colleagues, active Ukrainians, deserve special attention. Probably, even more attention than politicians’ utterances.
Valentyn NALYVAICHENKO: “The politicians have to admit that the high-quality alternative exists in Ukraine which is the equal right cooperation with public movements, organizations and their leaders. They have to be involved within the consolidated opposition. Firstly, we should have primaries to find out whom the people support. Others have to withdraw. Then we should have the single social and political party list of candidates. And, finally, the consolidated program of the opposition’s actions.”
Vitali KLITSCHKO: “Our main task is to change the situation in the country. The power has been encroached. Today some opposition forces want to be represented in the new parliament but for this we have to change the rules of play in the Ukrainian politics. We have every reason to form the parliamentary majority. However, to be able to do this we have to use our potential instead of making mistakes we have repeatedly made.”
Andrii SENCHENKO: “If we speak about today’s parliamentary opposition, these are about 120 MPs working in the conditions of the absolutely inefficient parliament. In the Verkhovna Rada a lot is decided without the agenda, laws, and opposition, just by Chechetov’s hand. However, there is a large opposition, our people who make the majority. Unfortunately, this is the kitchen opposition. Many people, including public institutions, have folded their hands and stopped fighting. By the way, it is also the important part of the society that has to control the authorities.”
