It is too early for Victor Yanukovych and Yulia Tymoshenko to lay claims to the highest office and make deals who will be president or premier, Vadym Krasiov, Yushchenko’s political adviser and analyst, said, addressing a press conference to day.
The incumbent can make it to the second round, Karasiov said. It will not be a landslide victory, but Yushchenko will compete in the run-offs and play havoc with all other candidates, the expert forecast.
“Crowd-pleasing slogans won’t attract many votes to the other candidates. They seem to forget that there is a person, Viktor Yushchenko, who is dealing with Ukraine’s historical challenges and who is dedicated to build a better future for his country,” Karasiov said.
Candidates whose campaigning is based on billboards, city lights and self-hype, “do not work in the context of national, historical and ideological dimensions,” as Karasiov put it.
Vadym Karasiov lambasted other candidates for telling Ukrainians what they expect to hear. Politicians should not become Aunt Agony. “Politicians should not repeat the grievances, they should anticipate them and offer effective solutions,” the expert added.
As for Yushchenko’s present 2-3% approval rating, Karasiov said it was quite good as 30% of Ukrainians have not yet made up their minds who to support. “Yanukovych’s and Tymoshenko’s ratings do not grow, and Yatseniuk’s rating is dwindling,” he noted.
