Sacked
Not sure why but none of the other blogs/news websites seem to have picked this up yet, but after just seven months Ukraine's President Viktor Yushchenko has sacked his government. In recent weeks there have been several allegations of corruption swirling around (although not concerning) the Head of State. A spate of resignations have dogged the new government in recent days, as the chief of staff Oleksandr Zinchenko claimed things were "even worse" than under the former President Leonid Kuchma.
It's questionable how much good firing everyone, including the popular Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, will do for Ukraine and Yushchenko's ambitions to join the WTO. The President is already lagging behind on that front, as several deputies have blocked the passage of necessary legislation to join the organisation. Quite how he attempts to achieve that goal by bringing Tymoshenko's Socialists into opposition with him is a mystery. He was forced to work with them orginally, as the majority of parliament contains ex-Kuchma allies. By alienating the more democratic elements in the chamber he leaves little room for manouver. Perhaps he is hoping that this gamble will pay off and he can scoop a large majority in the 2006 legislative elections, however due to Kuchma's tampering with the constitution whichever party obtains the most seats will be entitled to take the post of Prime Minister. Looking at the latest stats there is the very real possibility that Viktor Yanukovych's Party of Regions will be able to form a government in some shape or form.
Yushchenko's popularity is falling by the day, lets hope for the sake of democracy that he can turn things around, and that Kuchma's ex-allies aren't back in power by this time next year.
For those of you interested he has appointed Yuri Yekhanurov, the Dnipropetrovsk governor as acting P.M.
Check out the Kiev Ukraine News Blog, who im sure will be updating on the situation throughout the day
It's questionable how much good firing everyone, including the popular Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, will do for Ukraine and Yushchenko's ambitions to join the WTO. The President is already lagging behind on that front, as several deputies have blocked the passage of necessary legislation to join the organisation. Quite how he attempts to achieve that goal by bringing Tymoshenko's Socialists into opposition with him is a mystery. He was forced to work with them orginally, as the majority of parliament contains ex-Kuchma allies. By alienating the more democratic elements in the chamber he leaves little room for manouver. Perhaps he is hoping that this gamble will pay off and he can scoop a large majority in the 2006 legislative elections, however due to Kuchma's tampering with the constitution whichever party obtains the most seats will be entitled to take the post of Prime Minister. Looking at the latest stats there is the very real possibility that Viktor Yanukovych's Party of Regions will be able to form a government in some shape or form.
Yushchenko's popularity is falling by the day, lets hope for the sake of democracy that he can turn things around, and that Kuchma's ex-allies aren't back in power by this time next year.
For those of you interested he has appointed Yuri Yekhanurov, the Dnipropetrovsk governor as acting P.M.
Check out the Kiev Ukraine News Blog, who im sure will be updating on the situation throughout the day
posted by MattyJ @ 10:56 am
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