The Party of Regions Leader Viktor Yanukovych answered the ICTV Channel correspondent’s questions.

- Viktor Fedorovych, it has become clear this week that the campaign was not launched. Do you think these elections might be cancelled?

- I am sure the sooner they take place, the better it will be for the country and for the Ukrainian people. Because the country cannot live in such crisis situation. Initially we had a political crisis, or more correctly, firstly economic, and then political. Now there is a crisis of power.

- And why is procrastination taking place? Does it mean that during this period of time some agreements are being made, or some processes are under way, or is it just a desire to avoid the elections?

- In my opinion, it is also a pre-election technology. It is the technology of gaining time. We see that as a result today the leader of eponymous block Tymoshenko is making pre-term accusations against all of what will happen in the nearest future. But one should look back a little bit. Why will it occur so? Why is production diminishing today, why is construction coming to a halt in the country, why is the housing and communal sector in such a state and so on? These are the consequences of the policy we have been observing throughout the year.

A populist, thoughtless policy. Because a policy cannot be successful unless the government, parliament and president cooperate. And we have constantly told about it. I would like to make an example – it is a situation in the metallurgical industry. Why are the metallurgical works coming to a stop today? Why are the enterprises of the mining and metallurgical complex engaged in this technological cycle being already exposed to a halt? Because the support program for this industry, which is the basis for the Ukrainian economy, was not considered in due time.

I have visited a metallurgical plant in Makiivka. The enterprise is not working. The enterprise is not producing metal today. The similar situation is in the other factories as well. I met with the director of Illich plant – Yu.Boyko. He says that our state has not experienced such a crisis state of the metallurgical complex.

- Do you mean that impact of the global financial crisis did not play a crucial role here?

- No, this financial crisis plays its role around the world. But if we look at Ukraine, we should think how to protect our interests, the national interests. What should we do for this purpose? For example, why a stabilization fund has not been created by now? Why the citizens’ deposits are now being played with? What a kind of game is it? Why was hryvnia devaluation introduced firstly, our exporters were robbed, and then vice versa – it was raised, the Ukrainians were robbed twice. Firstly, the exchange rate of hryvnia was decreased, second time vice versa – the exchange rate of dollar was heightened.

And today when we hear from the present prime minister that there is no crisis in Ukraine, it... Well, I do not even know how to call it.

- It is obvious that you have already began forming the lists or at least holding discussions. Are there interested members of other political forces or, perhaps, the political forces which will merge with the Party of Regions to run for the elections together?

- Presently the consolidation process is under way. We conduct negotiations with several parties, which realize that political prospect in Ukraine is for big parties. And presently the consolidation process is under way. We are most likely to have a result in the foreseeable future.

- Will we find some new names in your list? Familiar new names?

- Certainly. It happens in every elections. There will be new names. We are not going, as it is said, to clean the ranks of the current MPs very much. Most probably, if someone does leave, this process will be natural in any case. And mostly of their own accord. Someone might have to be helped.

- Viktor Fedorovych, and eventually Your prognosis for the next week. Will the elections process begin, and still when these elections may take place?

- It should be carried out as soon as possible. Because the country is sinking into an abyss. And how successful the Tymoshenko Block will be in detaining this process and retaining power at the cost of destabilization of the situation in the country, time will show. But I would like to say that it will not be for the benefit of neither her political force nor its leader.

- But still do you think that the elections will take place by the end of the year?

- I think that there is no other option. Definitely, they will take place.