“I do not rule out my premiership,” says Tihipko

Tihipko said he might take the offer if a new president tells him that crowd-pleasing declarations are over and it’s time to start reforms in Ukraine.

“Since 1997, when I got my first job in the government, I’ve been hearing the same question “Why can’t we make the needed changes?” And the same explanation why the reform should be postponed - due to political reasons, due to approaching elections. As a result, no reforms took place in Ukraine,” Tihipko said.  

 “My super difficult goal is to modernize Ukraine. It is a most interesting challenge for me. If this happens – everything will change for the better,” he said.
In a modern country the people are free, there are no poor people, politicians will change, more pragmatic managers will come, to name a few positives.” 
“I can see myself in such an environment. I am prepared to risk my good name and image,” he confessed.

 “I am not afraid [of this challenge] because I will be able to explain [my policy] to the people,” he said.

Tihipko confirmed his earlier meeting with Tymoshenko and Yanukovych – at their requests. There are several reasons why he refused their offers, Tihipko went on. First, his voters are intelligent people and they will sort it out for themselves, he noted.

If you hear Yanukovych or Tymoshenko, they are given only to crowd-pleasing declarations, not constructive proposals, Tihipko said. 

He also ssaid he would not harmonize his agenda and come to compromises with them now, adding he will not support their present agendas. “ I am not going to support any of their present declarations,” he added.