- How did you sleep before these elections?
- As I usually do. Not because I'm indifferent to what is happening. On the contrary, because, I think, a person in my position should not attract the attention of voters in the wrong way, using certain pre-election tricks two months, two weeks, or especially two days before the election. It was necessary to show over four years that you know the problems people face, are prepared to solve them, and that you in fact do this. And whether you have the right to continue the job will be clear from the election results.
- What do you think of the new electronic vote-counting system?
- I think it works effectively. At least, it makes it possible to obtain the election results quickly, and in my opinion this is very important.
- Can it be said that elections have already become a stable democratic institution?
- I think that the problems we face today are linked to what happened in the past, because here the people and power were always very distant from each other. A feeling of participation in events taking place should of course come as the years go by. We remember the situation two or three years ago, when in municipalities, i.e. in small villages and towns, elected officials whom everyone knew suddenly disappeared during the most difficult periods of the so-called "winter maximum", because they were hiding from difficulties. But they were elected to their positions. I must say that at any level, even at the highest level, abandoning direct fulfilment of duties in difficult situations can always happen. And voters, people should of course understand the degree of responsibility when they cast their vote. I repeat: this requires a certain amount of time, and it seems to me that our country is no worse – in fact, I am certain of this – than other countries, and people's feeling of responsibility will of course grow as they see that a great deal depends on their vote. And this is in fact the case.
- How do you feel about your rivals in these elections?
- I have been accustomed to feeling great respect for my rivals since the time when I was actively involved in sport. I was taught this by my sport instructors and trainers. If only because these people have done you the honour of fighting with you one on one, on the mat, as we used to say. In my opinion, all these people are worthy, and the result will be known tomorrow – the preliminary result.