Ukraine Today - An Independent Political Review

Ukraine's President, Viktor Yushenko has suffered a major blow and in relation to his authority over the parliamentary party of "Our Ukraine" The participants in a congress of the People's Union Our Ukraine party will not vote for recalling ministers representing this party from the Cabinet led by Yulia Tymoshenko, Vira Ulianchenko, the head of the party's Council, said on Saturday. "No, we will not [recall Our Ukraine ministers], because it is thanks to our ministers that our voice is heard there [in the government]" Ulianchenko told journalists before the congress. ( Kyiv Post ) This is a major blow to Yushchenko whose strategy is to undermine Ukraine's government in the hope of providing him justification for the dismissal of Ukraine's democratically elected Parliament. Yushchenko has until July 17 top call another snap Parliamentary election. The Congress of Our Ukraine had demanded that Yulia Tymoshcneko withdraw her intention to nominate

Commentary on Arseniy Yatseniuk’s column Today, 15:09 | Taras Kuzio, Source: Kyiv Post “I am convinced that all constructive forces should unite around my initiative on the holding of a referendum to defend the constitution and guarantee constitutional stability”, Arseniy Yatseniuk wrote in the Kyiv Post on June 26 and also in Ukrayinska Pravda. Very good. But, why have you only decided to support a referendum now? When you were first deputy head of the Presidential Secretariat between 2006-2007, why did you then not support [the Yulia Tymoshenko bloc] (BYuT)’s initiative to hold a referendum? The Constitutional Court ruled already in October 2005 that constitutional reforms needed to be put to a referendum and it is surprising that it has taken you four years to therefore call for a referendum. In 2006-2007, the president and his team (including yourself) did not support a referendum on the constitutional changes.

In an apoplectic act of fulfilling prophecies Viktor Yushchenko has ordered members of Our Ukraine to withdraw from the governing coalition . The order of the President is seen by many as a clear sign that Yushchenko will disband the Parliament forcing another round of Parliamentary elections to be held in October. Yushchenko has until July 17 to put his plan for Armageddon into action. Under Ukraine's Constitution the President can not dismiss the Parliament within six months of the next Presidential election scheduled for January 17, 2010. Six months out from the scheduled Presidential election Yushchenko has gone on the defensive by calling on Yulia Tymoshenko to abandon her quest to nominate for president under threats of forced resignation . Yushchenko's strategy is born out of desperation. Yushchenko's support rating is below 4% In another sign and act of desperation and an attack on the democratic processes Yushchenko has demanded that the Kyiv Branch of the Preside

Ukraine's constitutional wrangling has turned President Viktor Yushchenko (left) and Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko from Orange allies into bitter rivals. June 26, 2009 By Taras Kuzio Source: rfel.org On June 28, 1996, Ukraine became the last Soviet republic to adopt a post-Soviet constitution, and that day was designated Constitution Day, a national holiday. Two years later, on October 21, 1998, the Crimean Autonomous Republic adopted its own constitution, recognizing the peninsula within Ukraine. Leonid Kuchma's reelection as president in 1999 gave rise to Ukraine's first non-left parliamentary majority that sought to ditch the country's "semi-presidential" constitution in favor of a full presidential system. The relevant four questions were put to a referendum in April 2000 that was not internationally recognized, and were approved by a suspiciously high percentage

Ukraine's embattled President, Viktor Yushchenko, is convinced that he will win Ukraine's next Presidential and Parliamentary elections. With a support rating of less then 4% the only way Yushchenko can only survive the first round of voting is if the elections are rigged or he has signed a pact with the devil and sold Ukraine's soul. His Party "Our Ukraine" support rating has slumped over Yushchenko's term of office. In 2006 they had 14% of the vote. In 2007 they merged with the People's Self-Defence Party and their combined vote remained at 14% (Peoples Self Defence Party where estimated to have 5% support which represents a decline in support for Our Ukraine by a corresponding 5 percentage points). Current opinion polls place Yushchenko on 3.5% and Our Ukraine below 3% If fresh parliamentary elections are held Our Ukraine, under Yuschenko's leadership, is likely to lose outright. Our Ukraine, ignoring calls for Yushchenko to resign, has called on

Ukraine's two round Presidential election will cost over 100 million dollars per round in direct costs and a further 150 million in campaign costs A total cost of around 500 Million dollars for the two rounds. And what will they get for it? A failed President. Recent opinion polls indicate that Viktor Yanukovych (PoR 34.7%) will be in poll position and progress to the second round. Yulia Tymoshenko (BYuT 21.5%) is the most likely other candidate being 4 percentage points ahead of Arseniy Yatseniuk (Y-Front 27.6%). Ukraine's embattled President, Vikitor Yushchenko, has less then 4% support and will not be a serious contender. Yuschenko is what is referred to as a " Spoiler Candidate ". Yuschenko's candidacy will be the difference between Yulia and Arseniy. Ukraine needs to scrap the two round system and adopt a single round Preferential ballot. Same result at half the cost - Results of the elections known in days as opposed to months. 100's of Millions of dolla

Just who is responsible for the formation and determination of Ukraine's Foreign Policy? Under the provision of Ukraine's current Constitution the Parliament is responsible for the determination of Foreign policy Article 85 The authority of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine comprises: ... 5) determining the principles of domestic and foreign policy; The President and Foreign minister has a Representative role and Cabinet of ministers an administrative role Yushchenko's Foreign Policy Vacuum Under the proposed constitutional amendments put forward by Victor Yushchenko no one is responsible for the determination of Foreign policy. The President has a "leadership role”, The Cabinet of Ministers is responsible for the implementation of Foreign Policy and the President's appointed Council of National Security and Defence has a coordination role. But nowhere in Yushchenko's draft constitution is it stated who and how foreign policy is determined. It just exists or is th

Presidential elections to be held on January 17, 2010 After months of delay Ukraine's Parliament has set the date for Ukraine's next Presidential election for January 17, 2010 . The results of the election not expected until April 2010. Ukraine's embattled President, Viktor Yushchenko, has effectively extended his term of office by an additional three months beyond five years. With the date of the Presidential election now out of the way Yushchenko, will now shift his focus towards dismissing Ukraine's Parliament and calling fresh parliamentary elections to be held in October. Yushchenko, who is subject to limitations under Ukraine's Constitution (Article 90) has until July 17 and arguably until the end of August to call for fresh Parliamentary elections. If Yushchenko dissolves the Parliament fresh Parliamentary elections must be held within 60 days. Yushchenko will consider early Parliamentary elections as the best tactical means of undermining Yulia T

The Venice Commission's comments and review of President Yushchenko's proposed Draft Constitution is not an endorsement or statement of approval. It has correctly stated and criticised the fact that the proposed draft does not address the fundamental issue of conflicts between the various powers The Venice Commission appears to have brushed over a number of issues, most importantly is the question of competence of Yushchenko's proposed Senate and the fact that the composition and representative model of the Senate does not conform to modern democratic values. One vote one value denied The imbalance in Yushchenko's Senate mandate is significant as Western Ukraine under Yushchenko's proposal would have a significant advantage, disproportionally, over Eastern Ukraine. Whilst the commission has touched slightly on this issue it failed to highlight fully the problems and disparity in the proposed model. The Commission did question the merit and justification of the c

Strasbourg , 15 June 2009 Opinion no. 534/2009 CDL-AD(2009)024 Or. Eng. EUROPEAN COMMISSION FOR DEMOCRACY THROUGH LAW (VENICE COMMISSION) OPINION ON THE DRAFT LAW OF UKRAINE AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION PRESENTED BY THE PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE Adopted by the Venice Commission at its 79 th Plenary Session (Venice, 12-13 June 2009) based on comments by Ms Angelika NUSSBERGER (Substitute Member, Germany) Ms Hanna SUCHOCKA (Member, Poland) Mr Kaarlo TUORI (Member, Finland) Mr P é ter PACZOLAY (Member, Hungary) Mr Gérard MARCOU (Expert, Directorate General of Democracy and Political Affairs, Council of Europe) I. INTRODUCTION 1. By letter dated 6 April 2009 the Permanent Representation of Ukraine to the Council of Europe asked the Venice Commission to give an opinion on the draft revised Constitution submitted by the President of Ukraine to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on