KIEV, January 30, 20:54 /ITAR-TASS/. Ukraine’s opposition leaders “have no right to speak a language of ultimatums, they must take into consideration the opinion of those who do not support protests in Kiev’s Independence Square,” Elena Bondarenko, a deputy head of the Party of Regions faction in the Ukrainian parliament, told Itar-Tass on Thursday.
“The bulk of the country’s residents have a different point of view on the current development, and we represent these voters in the parliament as a majority,” she said. Of course, we must reckon with the point of view of those who are staying in the Independence Square. But is the opposition leaders do not represent the protesters in the negotiating process, if they are not backed by protesters, it means that they have no mandate as negotiators. So, whom do Vitaliy Klitschko, Oleg Tyagnibok and Arseniy Yatsenyuk represent? Do they represent themselves, their political force and factions?”
Apart from that, there are “many minor politicians on their own who think they can represent the people,” she noted. “So, whom should we have talks with in a situation, where everyone claims to be the leader? Inability to negotiate only protracts talks.”
According to Bondarenko, the opposition has been seeking to win the upper hand since 2004. “As soon as our opponents lose elections, they immediately seek to draw the country into protest movement,” she said. “They use absolutely illegitimate techniques that might bee enginnered outside our country.