Communists plan major changes (04/05/98)

Communists plan major changes

by Pavel Politiuk
Special to The Ukrainian Weekly

KYIV - Ukrainian Communists declared on the day after elections that, even though Ukraine's Central Election Commission showed them attaining only about 25 percent of the vote, they have calculated that they received 33 percent in political party support and about 30 percent of the seats in district elections.

And with that mandate they said they are ready to begin the destructuring of Ukraine's modest reform efforts.

"The people who voted and supported Communists indicated their negative attitude to this regime, demanding to change it," the leader of the Communist Party, Petro Symonenko, said at a news conference on March 30.

The chief of the presidential administration, Yevhen Kushnariov, confirmed that the results were a result of today's difficult life for most Ukrainians, but suggested that the vote was a warning, not a demand for change. "A significant number of people voted against the poor lives they lead today, and this is a warning to those conducting reforms in this country today," he said.

Although the Communists attained more than the 17 to 18 percent that had been predicted by independent pollsters, party chairman Mr. Symonenko accused Ukrainian government leaders and the Central Election Commission (CEC) of fraudulently reducing the percentage. "I think that they (Ukrainian authorities and the CEC) have stolen about 15 percent from the Communists because now their main objective is to deny the Communists a parliamentary majority," Mr. Symonenko said.

The leader of the Communists said his party, in coalition with other leftists, will implement wide-ranging changes - most notably in the Ukrainian Constitution ratified in July 1996.

He declared that the power of the presidency must be reduced, initially in its influence over the Cabinet of Ministers and the government. "The country of Ukraine does not need this post," said Mr. Symonenko.

He also said a radical change in the current policy of wide cooperation with foreign financial organizations is needed.

"We will not reject foreign credits, but there shoud be a state policy on borrowing, which must be directed to create new jobs for Ukrainians," Mr. Symonenko declared.

He seriously criticized the current cooperation agreements with the International Monetary Fund, charging President Leonid Kuchma with allowing the IMF to dictate conditions for Ukraine. "If the policy of diktat continues, we will urge Parliament to break cooperation with the IMF."

Mr. Symonenko also indicated that his party will try to reduce the independence of Ukrainian commercial banks, stating that in the context of the country's difficult economic situation "the interests of commercial banks must be placed below the interests of the people."

He declared that the National Bank of Ukraine, as well as commercial banks, should be placed under the control of the Verkhovna Rada because current policy is aimed at "killing" the Ukrainian hryvnia and does not support Ukrainian manufacturers.

According to information released by the CEC, the Communist Party was set to occupy more than a quarter of the 450 seats in Parliament. Other leftist parties, which capitalized on declining living standards in their election campaigns, also fared well.

The hrad of the presidential administration, Mr. Evhen Kushniarov, predicted a Verkhovna Rada divided into two camps: one in favor of keeping the Constitution as it is and further pursuing reforms; the other - led by the Communists - calling for changes to the Constitution and a halt to reforms.

While the results of the election point to a continued stand-off with the Parliament, Mr. Kushniarov reiterated a pledge made by President Kuchma to work with the new Verkhovna Rada to push measures needed to boost the economy.

Mr. Kushnariov added that he did not see the Parliament shaping up as "anti-presidential" and indicated that there is room for agreement with centrists, moderate nationalists and legislators unaffiliated with parties.