MFF starting The People’s Programme campaign (photo)
The Movement for Freedom (MFF) deputy chair Yuras Hubarevich agreed to answer the questions concerning the organization’s latest initiative.
− Mr. Hubarevich, what is the meaning of The People’s Programme campaign?
− For your reference – The theses of Alaksandr Milinkievich’s election programme were presented in the Europe hotel in Minsk on May 3. These theses became the basis of The People’s Programme campaign initiated by us now. We address Belarusian citizens asking them to provide their evaluation and provide their feedback to each specific item of these theses. People can express their opinion concerning the proposed theses – namely, the economic model, the state system, the country’s political future, the development of relations with the neighbouring countries, etc. The address to a wide circle of citizens who are the specialists in all sorts of industries, politics, science, management, and social sphere will help reveal with maximum precision what steps need to be taken to really improve people’s lives. Every citizen’s opinion will be considered by a group of experts and taken into account while preparing the final election programme of the MFF leader Aliaksandr Milinkevich.
− People’s offers could contradict one another. It’s impossible to satisfy everyone, isn’t it? What will you do to avoid contradictions in the final document?
− You are right. But we do not aim at creating a populist programme. The MFF leader’s programme will be, surely, strengthened by the citizen’s proposals that are meaningful and feasible. We have already developed a general direction expressed in the theses. At the next stage, we’d like to enrich the programme with specific things that worry people but, at the same time, couldn’t be covered by the experts.
There’s a sociological aspect in this initiative, as well. The more feedback we receive, the best we will understand what problems are the most urgent and important for people. Of course, these proposals should not contradict the main course included in the theses of Milinkievich’s programme. The proposals should improve this line – for example, if we advocate closer integration with the EU, the proposals to join Belarus to Russia or to unite our monetary systems are unacceptable for us.
− How will The People’s Programme campaign be implemented in practice?
− At the first stage, we plan to distribute some 70 thousand coloured booklets that will include the theses of Milinkievich’s vision of the European future of Belarus, and the major objectives of the nearest political campaign. The booklets will also include the web-site address where one could read the full theses of the programme. In addition, the voters will receive a questionnaire in which they could express their proposals concerning the programme. Also, there’s a question at the end of the questionnaire on the readiness of a voter to join Milinkievich’s team during the nearest political campaign (a voter could also specify the desired type of work). The envelope is included with the return address where a voter could send the completed questionnaire with evaluations, proposals, and wishes concerning the programme’s theses. You can also send your recommendations on improvement of the programme to prahrama@gmail.com.
The work on improvement of Milinkievich’s programme will be performed in internet, as well, since this requires less investment, and allows covering a larger population. We plan to create a site in the nearest future where one could evaluate specific items of the programme, add own proposals concerning them, evaluate the previous proposals, and comment on them. In this way, a communication internet platform will be created to discuss and improve the programme.
− There were the examples of addressing the voters before. How does The People’s Programme differ?
− True, such form of work with people has been used in our country before. Lukashenka’s administration collected complaints and proposals from the citizens on improvement of the local authorities’ work. The non-governmental Tell The Truth campaign also proposed to send letters to the president’s administration with the description of local problems. In contrast to these cases, we have a certain core, a specific developed programme that is proposed for public discussion and evaluation. The feedback will also be collected and analyzed by us – not by the administration of the head of state.
− So, will the results of this work be available only to the MFF?
The MFF, and especially its leader Alaksandr Milinkievich, undertakes the responsibility for the implementation of The People’s Programme. At the same time, we call our programme an open one; other contenders could use our programme, as well. In any case (irrespective of the election’s outcome), we plan to press on the Belarusian leadership to implement the provisions of The People’s Programme that will be developed and supported by a large number of Belarusians.
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