Yanukevich: Opposition should stop talking about repressions
The European Radio for Belarus proposed blogger malishevsky to converse with newly elected leader of the Party of the Belarusian Popular Front, Aliaksei Yanukevich. The latter admitted that Lukashenka took a bigger part in the life of the opposition than in the life of ordinary citizens. He is also thinking why Milinkevich is not a member of the Popular Front and why he himself is not part of the For Freedom movement. He also explains why the Popular Front will be in the opposition to the United Civic Party in case the latter gets power. Yanukevich also tells if he is going to work for Milinkevich in case the Popular Front nominates its own candidate. He has promised to think about the difference between the chairman and the leader of a party. He has even admitted that the opposition should not talk a lolt about political repressions
Who congratulated you with the election?
Y: In the first place, my family and friends. Among those who congratulated me were Anatol Liabedzka, Stanislau Shushkevich, Pavel Seviarynets, Alexander Millinkevich. Mr Holubeu called me on the next day. I think this is everyone's personal business. All those who count on cooperation and with whom I would like to cooperate sent their congratulations. Obama did not.
Obama... I am sorry, but I am more interested in your competitors...
Y: Barshcheuski congratulated during the congress. Ivashkevich shook my hand. Viachorka did not.
What did your father say?
Y: He said: "Good luck!" He is supporting and trusting me.
Was he scared? It is a huge burden, the whole party in these difficult times!
Y: I guess he was more alarmed when I told him in 1996 that I joined the Popular Front.
You are not eligible to run for presidency during the next elections. Why do you think the Consitution has an age limitation of after 35 years old?
Y: This is a logical provision, because person needs to have a huge life experience in order to rule the country.
What about a political party?
Y: I am confident that at this age it is possible to run a party. I will tell you more: the question of the life experience does not necesserily depend on age. We have seen the experience of the Baltic countries, Hungary where young people about my age (33) ruled the country and carried out the transition from the socialist to market economy.
.
Let's say that there is a party leader who is not eligible to become a president and someone from the Popular Front will wish to become a president.
Y: I hope so.
Let's say Viachorka will run from the Popular Front. Milinkevich will run as well. Which of them will be backed by you and the Party of the Popular Front?
Y: I will carry out a decision to be taken by a special congress of the party where we will discuss our format of the participation in the presidential elections. Even if this person is weaker than Milinkevich, I will work for him anyway.
You should be aware why you are always associated with Milinkevich
Y: Mostly by those who are not aware of the situation.
During the 2006 presidential elections, you were part of Milinkevich's team and were in charge of his regional tours.
Y: Yes, and I think I did my job very well.
What were the failures?
Y: We could have been better about the printed materials. The platform could have been better if the creative group worked better.
Are you a member of the For Freedom movement?
Y: No.
Why?
Y: I have enough work at the Party of the Popular Front.
Why do you think Milinkevich has never joined the Party of the Popular Front?
Y: It is hard to say why he did not join the part in the past. Later, I think, it is quite obvious: he understands that the Popular Front has both the positive and negative ratings. I simply think -- and I said it before -- that there are more chances to attract new people if he is not associated with the existing political brands.
Are you not offended?
Y: No. Milinkevich said in all his interviews that he supports national values and considers the Party of the Popular Front as an important subject of the political life. In principle, it was totally sufficient to me.
What is your own opinion about the party's current ratings? More positive or more negative?
Y: Approximately the same. And this has not changed since 1994, I guess.
Since when have you been with the party?
Y: Since 1996.
What was the most important in your program voiced at the congress? Why did they support you?
Y: Three positions. I was for the independence of the party from the United Democracy Forces (UDF) and any other subjects. Secondly, I was for the renewal of the party, i.e. to refuse from stereotypes and to return back to the society and the reality where the majority of people live. Thirdly, I wanted to restore a normal enviroment within the party and to stop the policy of cleaning pursued by the previous leadership of the party.
What kind of virtual reality are you talking about?
Y: One should admit that we got stuck in the opposition "Ghetto" in the past years due to the pressure of objective factors. Moreover, we created a parallel world and lived there. I think there was more Lukashenka in our life than in the lives of ordinary citizens.
What do you mean exactly?
Y: For instance, political repressions. In reality, people are fired from work or imprisoned. This is number one issue for the pro-democracy community. But ordinary people do not care about it at all.
Should the repressions not be talked about?
Y: One should talk less about repressions. We need to talk about repressions to those are indeed interested: journalists, analysts, experts. We created a lot of stereotypes about what an average Belarus citizen thinks about us, about Lukashenka. Ordinary people think about other things.
Who congratulated you with the election?
Y: In the first place, my family and friends. Among those who congratulated me were Anatol Liabedzka, Stanislau Shushkevich, Pavel Seviarynets, Alexander Millinkevich. Mr Holubeu called me on the next day. I think this is everyone's personal business. All those who count on cooperation and with whom I would like to cooperate sent their congratulations. Obama did not.
Obama... I am sorry, but I am more interested in your competitors...
Y: Barshcheuski congratulated during the congress. Ivashkevich shook my hand. Viachorka did not.
What did your father say?
Y: He said: "Good luck!" He is supporting and trusting me.
Was he scared? It is a huge burden, the whole party in these difficult times!
Y: I guess he was more alarmed when I told him in 1996 that I joined the Popular Front.
You are not eligible to run for presidency during the next elections. Why do you think the Consitution has an age limitation of after 35 years old?
Y: This is a logical provision, because person needs to have a huge life experience in order to rule the country.
What about a political party?
Y: I am confident that at this age it is possible to run a party. I will tell you more: the question of the life experience does not necesserily depend on age. We have seen the experience of the Baltic countries, Hungary where young people about my age (33) ruled the country and carried out the transition from the socialist to market economy.
.
Let's say that there is a party leader who is not eligible to become a president and someone from the Popular Front will wish to become a president.
Y: I hope so.
Let's say Viachorka will run from the Popular Front. Milinkevich will run as well. Which of them will be backed by you and the Party of the Popular Front?
Y: I will carry out a decision to be taken by a special congress of the party where we will discuss our format of the participation in the presidential elections. Even if this person is weaker than Milinkevich, I will work for him anyway.
You should be aware why you are always associated with Milinkevich
Y: Mostly by those who are not aware of the situation.
During the 2006 presidential elections, you were part of Milinkevich's team and were in charge of his regional tours.
Y: Yes, and I think I did my job very well.
What were the failures?
Y: We could have been better about the printed materials. The platform could have been better if the creative group worked better.
Are you a member of the For Freedom movement?
Y: No.
Why?
Y: I have enough work at the Party of the Popular Front.
Why do you think Milinkevich has never joined the Party of the Popular Front?
Y: It is hard to say why he did not join the part in the past. Later, I think, it is quite obvious: he understands that the Popular Front has both the positive and negative ratings. I simply think -- and I said it before -- that there are more chances to attract new people if he is not associated with the existing political brands.
Are you not offended?
Y: No. Milinkevich said in all his interviews that he supports national values and considers the Party of the Popular Front as an important subject of the political life. In principle, it was totally sufficient to me.
What is your own opinion about the party's current ratings? More positive or more negative?
Y: Approximately the same. And this has not changed since 1994, I guess.
Since when have you been with the party?
Y: Since 1996.
What was the most important in your program voiced at the congress? Why did they support you?
Y: Three positions. I was for the independence of the party from the United Democracy Forces (UDF) and any other subjects. Secondly, I was for the renewal of the party, i.e. to refuse from stereotypes and to return back to the society and the reality where the majority of people live. Thirdly, I wanted to restore a normal enviroment within the party and to stop the policy of cleaning pursued by the previous leadership of the party.
What kind of virtual reality are you talking about?
Y: One should admit that we got stuck in the opposition "Ghetto" in the past years due to the pressure of objective factors. Moreover, we created a parallel world and lived there. I think there was more Lukashenka in our life than in the lives of ordinary citizens.
What do you mean exactly?
Y: For instance, political repressions. In reality, people are fired from work or imprisoned. This is number one issue for the pro-democracy community. But ordinary people do not care about it at all.
Should the repressions not be talked about?
Y: One should talk less about repressions. We need to talk about repressions to those are indeed interested: journalists, analysts, experts. We created a lot of stereotypes about what an average Belarus citizen thinks about us, about Lukashenka. Ordinary people think about other things.
