Who loses from populism?

On an opposition rally near Verkhovna Rada on April 2 some of its participants urged people not to pay utility bills until the date of municipal elections is announced. The Day asked experts about whether such calls are reasonable and in what it may result for most residents of the capital. Most of the experts agree that such call is quite irresponsible and its im­ple­men­tation will hurt people.

Pavlo ROZENKO, MP, UDAR faction:

“First, the public should be treated with respect. And, secondly, any protest actions should be coordinated within the opposition. The calls for not paying utilities will result only in that the non-payers will be charged a fine. Besides, confiscation of property, or even in some bad cases, confiscation of housing is possible. There are many other, much more effective, forms of putting pressure on the authorities.

“Calls for not paying utilities were efficient and happened in the history of Kyiv during the ill-founded and substantial ta­riff increases. Then, by not paying for the utilities people achieved lower prices for the utilities. But at this moment it is not quite correct to mix ‘utility payments’ and politics. The call itself is somewhat populist. In general, such things should be coordinated and, most importantly, its initiators should understand possible consequences of such actions not for the politicians, but primarily for ordinary people. I hope this call will not motivate Kyiv residents not to pay for the utilities.”

Pavlo KACHUR, Executive Director of the Alliance “New Energy of Ukraine,” former minister of housing and utility services:

“Calls not to pay for utilities until the announcement of the date of the elections in the capital should be viewed as a reaction to the violation of the constitutional right of people to choose their government. Of course, under normal conditions such urge is abnormal because people have to pay for the services they receive. But when their rights have been ignored such actions [not paying utility bills. – Ed.], are a way to attract attention. However, in this case the urge is aimed at ‘wrong’ people. In the end, the public utility companies and not the central government bodies, responsible for ensuring elections in Kyiv, will be those that lose.

“I would advise people to treat this call as a populist action. Politically, I am for drawing attention to problems by organizing various campaigns. But it seems to me that this time the wrong method has been chosen. It is directed not against the perpetrators of the problem.”

Tetiana BOIKO, head of the housing programs of the social network OPORA:

“It would be wrong to make the issue, which lies in the purely economic sphere, dependent on political aspects. Public utility companies depend not only on the head of the Kyiv City State Administration. But such actions [not paying utility bills. – Ed.] can seriously undermine the economic situation in the city.

“Kyiv residents will pay the bills eventually either by their own will and desire or after a court ruling. Public utility companies should not be linked directly to the political authorities of the city. If they do not receive money for services they provide, it can paralyze the city: Kyiv­tep­­lo­energo will stop power or hot water supply, Vodokanal will cut off the water, garbage won’t be taken away from the streets, etc. As a result, the people of Kyiv may suffer from such purely po­pulist urges.”