Tymoshenko opposes single opposition candidate in 2015 vote

Imprisoned former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko issued a May 29 statement opposing a proposal by opposition leaders to support a single candidate should the 2015 presidential election occur in two rounds. She said government agents with deep pockets could bribe certain opposition leaders to undermine the agreement, thereby discrediting the opposition ahead of the election. “It’s necessary to achieve the maximum mobilization of Ukrainians against the ruling “Family” in the first round of the presidential election campaign,” she said. “Such a mobilization will be much better conducted by several strong teams of real opposition candidates, rather than one such team,” she said.

Zenon Zawada: Tymoshenko’s statement reveals that she distrusts the current opposition leaders, a feeling that’s legitimate. The Ukrainian Democratic Alliance for Reform (UDAR) declined to join the Unified Opposition during the 2012 parliamentary campaign, while her Fatherland party has always been at odds with the Freedom Party nationalists. Reports have also surfaced of widespread distrust with the current Fatherland party leaders, who have been rather complacent during Tymoshenko’s time in prison. It remains to be seen whether the opposition leaders will heed her call, but we think it’s precisely what they wanted to hear.