Yushchenko to head democratic forces in case of snap parliamentary elections, Stepan Havrysh says

September29200818:44

In all probability, Pres Yushchenko will head the so-called democratic forces [Our Ukraine and its minor allied parties] in case of snap parliamentary elections, Stepan Havrysh, deputy secretary of the National Defense and Security Council, told journalists, UNIAN reports Sept. 29.

The incumbent will lead the pro-presidential parties as there is no political dialog going on between Yushchenko and Yulia Tymoshenko which could lead to the restoration of the former coalition, Havrysh admitted.

If this happens, the snap parliamentary elections will amount to the first round of the presidential election, Havrysh said. “This is the only way to raise Yushchenko’s approval rating. This way is fraught with risks, but the positives outweigh the risks for Yushchenko.” The positives, according to Havrysh, include a change of Yushchenko’s role – from that of the national leader to political one. In so doing, Pres Yushchenko can gauge his support among Ukrainians and the country’s financial and industrial groups seeking political leaders to put their money on in the forthcoming presidential race.