Ukraine Today - An Independent Political Review

Ukraine's President, Viktor Yushchenko, has indicated that a coalition agreement may not be singed until June 2006. LINK For-ua.com Whilst other players have all signed agreements on the formation of a coalition government Our Ukraine which is spearheaded by Ukraine's President has to date refused to sign any agreement. Under dispute is Ukraine's choice of Prime-minister and other cabinet positions. Yulia Timoshenko party and the Socialist Party of Ukraine both who are part of the Orange coalition have agreed to the formation of an Orange coalition with Yulia Tymoshenko who received 22% of the Parliamentary vote taking the Prime-ministers position and the leader of the Socialist Party ( 7.5%) as the Parliamentary Chairman/Speaker. On the surface of it this proposal seams fair and justified given that Our Ukraine who only received 14% of voters support currently holds the Presidency. Problem is Our Ukraine are not happy about Yulia Tymoshenko being re-appointed as Prime

It is always hard knowing what is true and what is not but this article was recently published and is widely circulating around the media. This sort of speculation is rife in Ukraine and the longer Our Ukraine delay in formulating a coalition the the more confidence in Ukraine's political and economic development is undermined. Victor Yushchenko, Ukraine's President MUST call for a quick decision on the formation of Ukraine's Government, even if this means compromise on their close of Prime Minister or coalition partners. Whilst the impact of this indecisiveness has not yet become apparent the longer uncertainty drags on the greater the impact. The President MUST put an end to the uncertainty as soon as possible and before the Markets and international community begin to take flight. KIEV, April 28 (Itar-Tass) -- The pro-presidential Our Ukraine bloc and the opposition Party of Regions, led by Viktor Yanukovich, have agreed on the formation of a coalition in the new Suprem

Following the determination of the courts the following is the final results of the March 26 Election campaign. The Parliament must meet within 2 weeks from the offial publication date and then they have 30 days to form a coalition. Should a coalition not be able to be formed the President has the right to call for fresh elections. The holding of fresh elections is unlikely as the political fall out and costs is considerable. It is most likely that an Orange coalition of convenience will be formed in the first instance. With the passage of time (12 months) The President's party Our Ukraine' may withdraw from the coalition causing a constitutional crises and justification for the President to call fresh elections. With the election over Ukraine is expected to undergo major economic changes in the near future. Local prices will rise and inflation will continue in the double digits as Ukraine's economy begins to suffer. If the President, Our Ukraine and the Party of Regions ca

Day 30 since the March 26 Parliamentary Elections and still Yushchenko Our Ukraine party have not signed up for a working coalition. The longer this goes on the more it will begin to undermine public confidence and begin to effect Ukraine's economic stability. Yushchenko's who's election cost Ukraine over 300 Million Dollars in 2004 with the support of Yulia Tymoshenko and others refuses to acknowledge the outcome of the election results which saw Yushchenko's party come in 3rd place with only 14% of the overall vote behind Yulia Tymoshenko (22%) and Party of Regions (32%). As a result Our Ukraine does not hold a commanding lead. Prior to the election an agreement within the Orange team was reached with the understanding that whichever party receives the most votes will decide whop will become Prime Minister. This agreement was signed by all parties. Following the election when it became obvious to all but Yushchenko and his team that Yulia Tymoshenko out polled Our Uk

Ukraine's President, Victor Yushenko holds out, indicating his refusal to sign an agreement with his former orange coalition partners. Viktor Yuschenko who was elected President of Ukraine following public protests and the decision of the court to hold fresh elections in December 2004. His election, which cost Ukraine over 300 Million dollars, was only made possible with the support of Yulia Tymoshenko and Ukraine's Socialist Party. In recognition of her support Viktor Yushchenko appointed Yulia Tymoshenko Prime Minster. Nine months later Viktor Yushchenko, amidst allegations of corruption within the Presidents Our Ukraine Party, sacked Yulia Tymoshenko as Prime minister and appointed a representative from the President's own Our Ukraine block . Yulia Tymoshenko fought back and put her faith in the people of Ukraine and successfully campaigned winning 22%of the vote in the March 26 Parliamentary elections, coming second behind Party of Regions (32%) headed by Viktor Yushc

Ukraine today release official results of Parliamentary Elections held on March 26. KIEV, April 10 ( Itar-Tass ) -- After two weeks of vote counting Ukraine’s Central Election Commission on Monday announced official results of the March 26 parliamentary elections. The opposition Party of Regions led by former Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich received 32.14 percent of votes, former Prime Minister Yulia Timoshenko 22.29 percent (129 seats), the pro-presidential Our Ukraine bloc 13.95 percent (81 seats), the Socialist Party 5.69 percent (33 seats), and the Communist Party 3.66 percent. (21 seats) Several parties and blocs failed to overcome the 3-percent barrier. These include Natalia Vitrenko People’s Opposition bloc received 2,93 percent of votes, Vladimir Litvin bloc 2.44 percent, the Kostenko and Plyushch Bloc 1.87 percent, the Veche party 1.74 percent, Pora-PRP 1.47 percent, Not So! Bloc 1.01 percent. Other parties and bloc received less than 1 percent. Although Natalia Vitrenko Peop

The deep divisions that exist within Ukraine's newly elected Parliament are becoming more and more apparent as the Financial Times, Tom Warner reports. There was even the suggestion of a coalition of all five parties to come together to form a truly national government. But in reality this would not work and policies begin to divide and separate any working coalition. Behind all the negotiations is the Trump Card held by Ukraine's President, Viktor Yushchenko. If The new Parliament can not compromise and find agreement to form a coalition government the President can sack the new parliament and call for fresh elections. Tom Warner in his article has mentioned that two- fifths of the President's faction "Our Ukraine" have called for coalition talks with the blue "Party of Regions" something that is supported by a majority of Ukraine's business leaders. How much of this is gamesmanship in an attempt to persuade Yulia Tymoshenko to forgo her ambitions t

Viktor Yushchenko Files His Papers // For entry in the Orange coalition Protocol by Vladimir Solovyev, Maxim Zagorestky All the Article in Russian as of Apr. 07, 2006 The pro-presidential party Our Ukraine People's Union disclosed a protocol of intention declaring its readiness to enter into an Orange coalition. That does not mean, however, that the disagreements over the new government are over. The protocol has only angered the potential Our Ukraine allies – Yulia Timoshenko and the socialists – and caused even more doubts about the possibility of reuniting the Orange forces. Two Memoranda The Our Ukraine political council met Wednesday night, and Thursday morning a new document was announced, around which the Orange forces are supposed to unite at last. It is officially being called a protocol of intention, and it has already been sent to Timoshenko and socialist leader Alexander Moroz. The document states at length that the allies are required to follow the political course of

Radio Free Europe reports orange Coalition negotiations go sour with the President's Our Ukraine holding out for a better deal without Yulia at the helm. Yulia Tymoshenko (22%) received nearly twice as many votes as Yushchenko's Our Ukraine Party (14%). The Socialists Party (6%) backed the position put forward by Yulia Tymoshenko. Meanwhile calls for Ukraine's President to withdraw from party politics and resign from Our Ukraine continue unabated. Ukraine which has transferred power from its President to the Parliament. The President is no longer the leader of the government but Ukraine's Head of State. The President must represent all of Ukraine and not just the views of a minor political party. By resigning form Our Ukraine and withdrawing from direct involvement in party politics Yushchenko would help regain public and international confidence in Ukraine democratic development. under the principles of a westminster parliamentary democracy the President is not a

Yushchenko's party goes for "orange" coalition Ukrainian president Viktor Yushchenko's party has announced it will form a coalition with other so-called "Orange Revolution" liberal parties. This effectively rules out a deal with a pro-Moscow party that won a parliamentary ballot on March 26. Yushchenko's Our Ukraine party will join up with the Socialist party and the bloc led by former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko. The question still remains though: who will be prime minister? Observers say Tymoshenko has been pushing for the job, a post that Yushchenko took away from her last September. The polls were the first to be held under new rules that give parliament the power to name the premier. A new Orange coalition would leave the Regions Party of pro-Moscow politician Viktor Yanukovich out of government, even though his party won most of the votes in the election.

World News reports an agreement has been reached between Yulia Tymoshenko, Our Ukraine and the Socialist Party of Ukraine to form a coalition. Unresolved is the choice of Prime Minister and the basis of any agreement. Analysts predict that the Orange Coalition will falter within 12 to 15 months and with the passing of time Our Ukraine will withdraw from the coalition and call for fresh elections. It is expected that Ukraine's economy will get worst before it gets better with inflation expected to extend well into double digits as prices rises take off. As discussions between the various factions continue more players in the Political arena will be calling for Ukraine's President to withdraw from Party Politics and independently represent all of Ukraine and not just the perceived interests of Our Ukraine with only obtained 14% of Ukraine's constituent vote in the March 26 Election. Under Changes to Ukraine's constitution Ukraine is no longer governed by Presidential ru

Below is an interesting editorial commentary and though it worthwhile re-publishing. It addresses some of the issues confronting the choices facing Ukraine. Whilst the electioneering is over the political battle is just beginning. We continue to hold the view that Yushchenko who is no longer the leader of the government but now a head of state must resign from Our Ukraine. It would be wrong for him to reassert undue influence in any proposed marriage of convenience between Our Ukraine and Yulia Tymoshenko. Yushchenko would best serve Ukraine if he remained an independent President representing all of Ukraine and not just the interest of Our Ukraine who in turn represent only 14% of the country Predication: Any marriage/coalition between Our Ukraine and Yulia Tymoshenko would be short lived and with the passing of time and a bit of distances the President will propose changes to the constitution and may use this as a pretence to dissolve the coalition and call for new election. We woul

The Ukrainian Parliement today took a step backwards in refusing to protect the democratic rights of minorities by refusing to undertake a recount and verification of the elections results. In teh west preliminary recounts of votes is a common practics to verify the results of the election. It should be a matter of course and part of the responsibiles and duties of the electoral commission. The fact that the outgoing Parliament is called on to pass judgement is of concern itself. under normal circumstances Parlaiments go out of office on teh eve of the election and any caretaker administrative responsibilities are the responsibility of the President or Head of State. To date the election process was well conducted but the same can not be said for the process of counting the ballot. There is serious doubt as to the accuracy of the count with allegations of possible fraud and deception. The failure of the Ukrainian electoral commisison to undertake as a matter of course a recount of the

Ukraine's Yushchenko: I'm still the boss By Christian Lowe Reuters Saturday, April 1, 2006; 11:23 AM KIEV (Reuters) - Ukraine's President Viktor Yushchenko tried on Saturday to reassert his authority after an election defeat, warning estranged ally Yulia Tymoshenko she could only head a coalition government on his terms. Yushchenko's Our Ukraine party finished a humiliating third in a March 26 parliamentary election, forcing him into a round of horse-trading with the charismatic Tymoshenko -- whose bloc placed second -- about forming a coalition. The president said any partners in a coalition government would have to sign up to a detailed plan of action and a legislative timetable, a condition that looked like an attempt to rein in Tymoshenko's radicalism.

Ukraine's President has called for a vote recount of last weeks national election at the request of a number of candidates. A recount would delay the official declaration of the poll and buy more time to finalise any possible coalition agreement. At stake is the election of minor parties who failed to secure the 3% threshold required under Ukrainian Electoral Law. On the official results have recorded Natalia Vitrenko Bloc with just under 3% (2,97%) of the vote. Analysis of the election results shows that Natalia Vitrenko received over 3% of the formal vote but that Ukraine has included the number of informal votes in calculating the threshold required. At risk is up to 20 Parliamentary seats which if elected would be allocated to Vitrenko's party. There is concern and debate that the 3 percent threshold should be based on the formal vote and not include informal ballot papers. Informal ballot papers are recorded as a result of ballots showing no vote or indicating multiple

Viktor Yushchenko is coming under the media spotlight with questions being asked about his standing and credibility following last weeks National Election and the fact that the Presidents support party "Our Ukraine" only managed to gain 14% of voters support. Ukraine's President is seriously being undermined and unless something is done soon the situation will only get worst. At the heart of the problems is the fact that the President is closely aligned with Our Ukraine amidst concern that the President has not yet come to terms with the fact that he no longer rules the country. Last weeks election heralded in the final stages of Ukraine's transition from Presidential rule to a Parliamentary democracy. The responsibility for government and the power now lies with the Prime minster and Ukraine's Parliamentary representatives not the President. There is ongoing concern that the President no longer has the support or moral justification to pursue his reform agenda o