Ukraine Today - An Independent Political Review

Another Poll showing more and less the same result. Acording to the published poll Party of Regions and the Communist will re-secure a majority in the Parliament with 242 and the opposition on 208 seats. Source: Ukrayinska Pravda The only likely change is the split within the Socialist Party/Peoples Self-Defence Party. New comer to the electoral statistics includes 'For Ours!' Verka Serdyuchka's Bloc (VSB), Ukraine's drag queen finalist in the 2007 Eurovision song contest, who is registering over 2% voter support. Poll Statistics Publication Date Party/Value   % Poll % Vote % Seats Poll SOCIS PoR 31.0% 33.7% 213 BYuT 17.5% 19.0% 120 OU * 12.8% 13.9% 88 CPU 4.3% 4.7% 29 PSD * 0.0% 0 SPU 1.0% 1.1% 0

If ever you need move proof that Ukraine's president, Viktor Yushchenko, is constitutionally out of control take another look at the recent admission that the president will need to issue a forth decree or is that fifth decree to try and bring his decrees and dismissal of Ukraine's Parliament in line with Ukraine's constitution. The President of Ukraine is to issue a fourth decree to try and bring his decrees in line with Ukraine's Constitution. Rather then admit that the decree is correct errors in the earlier decrees. the president's supporters are trying to pass it off as am offical launch of the parliamentary camaign. Earlier Moroz had warned of the need for a further decree, something that the office of the president denied at the time. Ukraine, according to the office of the president, has been without a parliament since April 2 when the president issued his first decree. Amidst ongoing concern that the president's decrees are unconstitutional the presi

A recent interview, published today by Ukranews (Copy below) , with Ukrainian Constitutional Court Judge Stepan Havrsh has brought into question the professional independence and seriously compromised the independence of the Constitutional Court. Stepan Havrsh was a political appointment made by Ukraine's President, Viktor Yushchenko following the presidents illegal dismissal of three constitutional Court judges on the eve of the Constitutional Courts ruling on the legality of the president's own decrees. The interview raises a number of issues not the least being concerns about a member of the supreme court prejudging and discussing cases before the court outside the court itself. Stepan Havrsh has confirmed, what has clearly perceived as having been the real motive of the president inference in the functioning of the court, the court is to avoid considering the question of the legality of the presidents decree at all costs. Stepan Havrsh was reported as stating "I canno

Center for Sociological and Marketing Research SOCIUM conducted a survey called “Social and Political Problems in today’s Ukraine. Situation and prospects of development.” 12,690 respondents all over Ukraine were questioned. The respondents were asked to answer 38 questions. SOCIUM sent the results of the survey to REGNUM. Below, you can see information about social and political attitudes of the Ukrainian population. So, 55.4% assess negatively consequences of the Orange Revolution. 11.4% have the opposite view. 14.1% are more negative than positive about the outcomes of the Orange Revolution, 11.1% are neutral, 8% are more positive than negative about it. Answering the question whether financial position of a respondent has changed and how, 42% said nothing changed; 30.3% state their financial position worsened, 26.1% believe their life improved, 1.6% gave other answers. The survey also checked confidence rates of Ukrainian political leaders. It turned out that Prime Minister Viktor

Ukrainian 2007 Eurovision Song contest runner up, Verka Serduchka, has indicated s/he will run for Parliament. Source: Ukrainska Pravda There is nothing new in comedian celebrities running for public office. (Ukraine's previous Eurovision Contest winner was elected to the parliament in 2006) Much of the challenge laid down by Ukraine's drag queen is more about media attention and publicity then it has to do with politics, policies, democracy or good governance. If anything Verka Serduchka, Ukraine's infamous drag queen will provide some light entertainment if not seriously effect the outcome of Ukraine's election and international standing. Verka Serduchka has yet to meet Ukraine's strict requirements for party registration before s/he can nominate for the election. Some commentators say that Verka Serduchka may even attack more then 3% of the vote, if that is true then s/he will also elect 15 more people. Even if s/he does not reach the 3% threshold s/he will effe

Another poll has been published this week. (19 July, 2007) Source UNIAN The outcome of this poll shows that the government would receive the lions share of the vote with a possibility of ex-parliamentary speaker Lytvyn party holding the balance of power and securing 18 seats. Ukraine's President, Viktor Yushchenko's Party Our Ukraine (OU) combined with the People's Self Defence Party (PSD) have not really picked up much support following their recent announcment that they will run as a single partuy bloc. OU/PSD combined vote actually dropping one percentage point. The poll indicates a voter participation rate of 92% which is very optimistic. Poll Statistics Publication Date 19-Jul-07 Party/Value   % Poll % Vote % Seats Poll All-Ukrainian Poll PoR 28.5% 30.7% 187 BYuT 20.3% 21.9% 133 OU * 11

In an article published by the European Voice and republished by foru-ua.com Ukraine's President, Victor Yushchenko, comments are open to interpretation and claims of being designed to muddy the waters of deception. Yushchenko starts off by stating "Over the last few months, Ukraine’s young democracy has faced a difficult challenge. This has taken the form of a constitutional crisis and an attempt by certain parliamentary forces to monopolise power by illegitimate mean." It could rightly be argued that the office of president is the real cause of the current constitutional crisis facing Ukraine today and that the president himself has acted illegally and contrary to Ukraine's constitution. Yushchenko goes on stating "European parliamentarianism is the heart of Ukrainian democracy. The Ukrainian people want their rights and freedoms to be guaranteed properly, not ritually". Whilst the President proclaims the virtues of Europe's Parliamentary system and U

Ukrayinska Pravda has published another poll this one shows a similar result to previous polls. The Ukrayinska pravda poll was conducted by the Democratic Initiatives Fund and Ukraine Sociology Service Company conducted a survey among 2000 respondents aged over 18 throughout Ukraine with the following result: Poll Results % of population Party of Regions, 33.3% Our Ukraine, People’s Self Defense bloc, 16.9% Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc gained, 16.9% Communists,5.7% Lytvyn’s People’s Bloc, 1.6% Socialist Party, 1.3% Progressive Socialist Party, 1.2% National Democratic Party, 0.8% Social Democratic Party (united) 0.3 % 2.9% of respondents will support nobody and 19.2% are undecided. The above data represent 91% of eligible voters Translated into possible seats in Parliament this represents Translated into possible seats Party of Regions (PoR), 206 Our Ukraine, People’s Self Defense bloc (OU), 104 Bloc Yulia Tymoshenko (BYuT), 104 Communists Party of Ukraine (CPU), 35 The survey was conducted

The analysis of a new poll published by for-ua.com predicts three parties being elected to parliament. The analysis published on the For-ua.com site is wrong as four parties will be elected according to the data published. Based on a 85% participation rate four parties would be elected to the parliament. The poll shows little gain for the Our Ukraine "Mega bloc" with Yulia Tymoshenko’s vote showing a 3% increase. Party of Regions is listed at 26% which is 7% lower then poll last week. Analysis of the results of the poll based on 85% participation rate indicates This poll also shows a high undecided vote Parliamentary Seats Date 12-Jul-07 Poll Social Perspective PoR 181 BYuT 160 OU 90 * Includes PSD party CPU 19 SPU 0 NVB 0 LB 0 UP 0 450 Gov 200 Opp 250

Reports in the media are speculating that the September parliamentary elections may well end up becoming a referendum on Ukraine reverting to a presidential dictatorship or retaining a system parliamentary democracy. Ukraine's president Viktor Yushchenko wants to regain power the power that he lost when Ukraine opted for a parliamentary democracy as opposed to a presidential system. Yushchenko has claimed that the constitutional changes that were adopted in 2004 were done so in haste. He has conveniently ignored that fact that there was two years discussion on proposed changes to Ukraine's constitution and that the transition from a presidential dictatorship to a parliamentary democracy has seen Ukraine begin to fall in line with all other European states. All of which are parliamentary democracies With just over 10 weeks until the September poll, comments in the media indicate that Yushchenko may call a snap referendum on the question of constitutional reform. The president ha

Our Ukraine- People ’s Self Defense bloc leader Yuriy Lutsenko has pledged his loyalty to Viktor Yushchenko in the lead-up to the 2009 Ukrainian Presidential elections but fails to offer or indicate his support for Prime-minister following the expected September 30 elections. Speculation is rife that Our Ukraine will seek to oust Yulia Tymoshenko from PM's spot. Lutsenko has ruled out his nomination for the Prime-ministers job leaving open the position for an Our Ukraine nominee by the president. Meanwhile the opposition continues to try to build its image by promoting itself as a united democratic pro-west force. The use of such labeling is questionable given the president's attacks on Ukraine's democratic institutions and his unconstitutional dismissal of Ukraine's democratically parliament. To help counteract and soften the criticism that the president has acted autocratically the president has indicated that he is prepared to support Viktor Yanukovych right to b