The "orange period" of our modern history is over. It is for people to judge whether it is good or bad. The politicians should think about the way the country will move forward. But one point is irrefutable: the President’s decree about the dismissal of Verkhovna Rada of sixth convocation tolled the death knell for the current authorities.

It relegated to oblivion the last illusions of part of the Ukrainian society, which did not want to believe in treason and deception till the very end. Although, the truth, eventually, presented itself to the people. And it is bitter.

The inevitability of such finale was predictable, and the Party of Regions has constantly warned the society against it. Nowadays the orange authorities’ inability to rise above its patchy team’s interests became a has-been fact. The pledges to guarantee the citizens equality before the law, economic progress, social enhancement remained mere words. They entailed the bloom of corruption, swift aggravation of situation in all spheres of life, chaos in the system of public administration.

Populism resulted in an unrestrained hike in prices and the highest inflation in Europe. Plunging Ukraine into NATO against the will of the most population and biased estimation of the events in the Southern Caucasus caused further rift in the society.

The authorities put the country on the verge of bankruptcy. It is vain to figure out who of the orange is more guilty of it. All their team is to blame. They are guilty all together.

Their horseshoe which should have brought the people happiness got unbent.

A clenched fist as a warning for criminals turned out to be a hooligan’s ordinary fist.

A flaming heart appeared to be selfish and unforeseeable.

The Party of Regions made every effort to protect the country against a catastrophe. During the last two years we won parliamentary elections twice, although we were not let to work. The people remember: in 2006 we led the country out of the crisis left by the orange. The citizens can compare the social and economic situation at that time and today. They can compare prices, wages and general state of the society. Under us the situation was stable and aimed at development, rather at destruction.

And what about our opponents? During less than one year of ruling of two orange governments the state lost the high dynamics of the economic growth twice. Over the current brief ruling of the operating government the citizens were also deceived twice. Firstly, dollar was devalued, then the people were advised to keep savings in national currency, thereafter hryvnia was devalued. Millions of ordinary citizens suffered. Their savings earned through hard work depreciated. The villagers suffered especially from the harvest problems. Our government did much so that the peasants sowed in due time, made good reserve for this autumn’s harvest in order that the harvest multiplied the wealth of those who rears it. And what happened? Speculators and dealers backed by the present authorities robbed farmers, robbed the state. Efforts of hundreds of thousands of people yielded a tiny benefit.

The orange brought Ukraine to a threshold of bankruptcy. It is true, though I am not a person to be glad of the political opponents’ failures. Eventually, the authorities’ failures hit the citizens’ interests and the state’s international authority, and these are our citizens and our state. Realizing it, we constantly suggested reaching an agreement. But not on the posts, but on the reforms, on the ways of improving people’s life, of developing the economy. However, the orange used to be interested exceptionally in the posts. They need so much authority seats that a whole furniture factory will not be enough.

The reasons for final collapse of the flimsy orange alliance are well known. Utmost plenitude of power is the main and, unfortunately, the only purpose pursued by these politicians. To this end the Constitution is violated, interpretation of its clauses becomes dependable on the current state of affairs, the rules of game are changed on the run, the word given by a politician transforms into a token coin and an object of shameless auction.

I would like to remind that the 2007 pre-term elections were initiated by BYUT and supported by the President. We warned then – these elections will bring no good, another creation of the orange coalition will just reiterate the 2005 realities – there will be intrigues, public scandals, gambles and populism again. And we warned that all these will result in failure.

Time confirmed the correctness of our prognoses. From the state which avoided civil confrontation at least twice over several years, Ukraine is transforming before the eyes of international community into embodiment of instability and unpredictability.

The fact that intolerance bordering on hatred used to be normal in relationship among the orange politicians is also endangering. It is a very dangerous phenomenon even from the position of universal moral leaving alone Christian moral. A word is given to a statesman to use it warily, for the society’s benefit. Aesculapius’ principle "do no harm" should be exercised among the politicians as well.

Friends rather than enemies should be made out of the political opponents because with the latter we will not build a strong democratic Ukraine.

It goes without saying, and the recent events confirm it once again, that any political force is unable to form a persistent parliamentary majority independently. And it means that politicians should renounce confrontation rhetoric. Because passions generated by them tomorrow will wipe them off.

Therefore, the Party of Regions laid down the rules to be adhered to by every politician who works for the people, for Ukraine, rather than for his or her own ambitions. These rules are simple:
1. Interests of the state and its citizens are above all.
2. Take care not of the authority seats, but how to use power for the people’s benefit.
3. Never put your own or party’s interests above the nation-wide interests.
4. Do not create an image of enemy of a political opponent. Remember: voters are behind him or her. Proclaiming the opponent an enemy, you proclaim as enemies all those who voted for him or her.
5. Be benevolent and truthful while asserting key principles of the party program.
6. In the democratic state no one has a monopoly to the right to be called a democrat.
7. All major decisions should be discussed with the people. The people always tell the truth.
8. Take care of all citizens of the state without exception, protect the culture, language and traditions of every community group, because we are the sole people.
9. Look after the poor and make everything to overcome poverty in Ukraine.
10. Always remember: there is one Ukraine for us. It should not be divided, but united.

The history of every state being reputed in the world had its ups and downs. The present mighty of old Europe – the Federal Republic of Germany – in the first post-war years was an economic ruin, besides divided in halves. France’s fate was in the hands of three winners in the Second World War with prospects to remain further at secondary roles.

Within these pillars of the present European Union acute political battles also occurred, which sometimes, as it happened in France in 1958, had scarcely brought the country to a national catastrophe. But high responsibility of the politicians before the people proved to be above the party’s interests.

I think that a responsible moment has come in our history. And it is not in the elections. It is in their aftermath. Because the pre-term parliamentary elections will not solve the main problem faced by Ukraine. Ukraine needs transition to a new political mindset. Its core is set down in the above mentioned principles. Having brought the "orange" period to closure, all together, all society, all people should be concerned of state colors in the direct meaning of this word. It is necessary to rally around the necessity to ensure stability, economic growth, improvement of citizens’ life, effective foreign policy in the country.

I am convinced that there are no forces in Ukraine interested in weakening our state system, and I would like all leaders of other political forces to agree with me about that. If it happens – a new political reality will open the prospects for rapid overcoming consequences of the recent crisis. Otherwise Ukraine will be faced with bad times.

But I am an optimist and therefore I believe in my colleagues, precisely colleagues, rather than political enemies. I hope that they will hear me.

The Party of Regions is a self-sufficient force. We are supported by millions of Ukrainians, whose voice at the upcoming elections could become key for the party ready to assume power in its hands. And I am sure that the people will assess the orange politicians’ actions properly.

We are confident of our forces. We are ready to undertake the country’s revival again. Without any ultimatums to the potential partners. Without hollow promises to the society to accomplish the unrealizable.

There will be no idle talk. There will be work for the state’s and the Ukrainian people’s benefit. There will be order and stability. Stability in the state and far-reaching civil mutual understanding will bring Ukraine long-awaited release from the sham of overall combat. For this reason I am thinking now not so much about the elections as about their aftermath. And I believe that together with me, most Ukrainians think the same.

"Segodnya" (“Today”) newspaper, October 11, 2008