[ad_1]
Oleg Filimonov (Photo: Screenshot from video by Christina Berdinskikh / NV)
Oleg Filimonov, a Ukrainian comedian and former Odessa KVN player, became a candidate for mayor of Odessa for the Servant of the People party. His nomination took place at the congress of political force, which takes place on August 31 in Kiev.
NV journalist Kristina Berdinskikh spoke with Filimonov about his plans for Odessa and his main electoral competitor, Gennady Trukhanov.
– In Odessa, the current mayor Gennady Trukhanov has a very strong position. How do you rate your work?
– You know, I find it difficult to evaluate the work of a person who has worked for many years …
– Well, you will compete with him …
– Because I’m his opponent, that’s what I’m talking about. To say that he is a good mayor, I do not know, he probably would not. And not because it is not for me … Personally, he is like a person, in general, as a figure, as a person that I quite like: he is handsome, he is macho, he is fit, he does tai-bo … A man [с англ. мужчина, — НВ].
I don’t like what he and his entourage are doing. Let’s say you don’t like something at all, but there’s a reason you can … The residents of Odessa behave a little strangely towards Trukhanov.
They say: he built the park! I say: boys, yes, yes, but he did not take the money out of the bank cell, he did not come and he did not build a park with this money; she took this money from me, my granddaughter Miechki (who is 11 months old), my neighbor Vova, who lives across the fence, and with this money he actually built a park. Thanks to decentralization, it finally made it possible to use the city’s budget in its entirety. Therefore, you cannot speak … It was we, the citizens of Odessa, who built the park, we made the roads.
– How are you going to compete with him? After all, Trukhanov is a highly experienced politician and does not always use, say, democratic methods of struggle.
– We will see the methods; Let’s see which one you will use. Of course, it will be difficult to compete. Actually, this is what I’m looking for: compete. There must be competition of ideas and vision. Here he stayed for 10 years [в городском совете] – What has changed in the city? Where is the city headed? Our city has become a weekend city, you understand? People come from all over Ukraine from Saturday to Sunday. The sea cannot be poured into another «container “and take it somewhere, so that they keep coming to Odessa, that’s where they spend the night. In summer, the ravine goes, Ibiza-shmibitsa, everyone walks.
But this is a dead end development path. Odessa should develop in a different way. Should have IT centers (furthermore, I will endeavor, if Odessa residents elect me, to be IT free, as there was once a free port in great old Odessa). I will endeavor to bring light industry to the city, because there are truly amazing artisans in Odessa. [Дизайнер] Julia Pascal is a global brand; in Jerez I saw her store, in London.
Odessa has an amazing business environment and it needs to be developed. As they say, “whip” this environment. Resort status needs to be returned to Odessa. Western ships stopped entering there, and earlier up to 30 ships entered, and the Royal Wagenborg level. All of this must be returned.
In Odessa, it is necessary to clean the center, make it normal, touristy, pedestrian, because the street is the center of attraction. So, you live in Kiev, where is it more interesting for you to walk, along Khreshchatyk or in the area of treatment facilities on the left bank? You know when I go to Boryspil it smells «well”.
And as soon as you make the street the center of attraction, people start to get there, business stops, [а следовательно] Offices are being developed. And that’s when you go this way, not above the knee, not by «break “not through «luminium “- then the city begins to develop properly. And the first thing that needs to be removed is the corruption component.
– And what is your relationship with Trukhanov? Do you know him personally?
– Yes, of course I am.
– When was the last time you spoke?
– Not long ago we spoke on the anniversary of Mikhail Mikhailovich Zhvanetsky, he came. Gennady Leonidovich and I even hugged.
– Has he told you about his political plans?
– No, I did not do it. To be honest, I didn’t have those plans then.
