December 7 Ukrainian Snap Election Issues
Following Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko’s dissolution of Parliament and calling for new elections on December 7, Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko filed suit in court to block the election. A Kyiv court ruled in favor of Tymoshenko, but a higher court reversed that decision. Additional hearings are expected next week.
The court hearings along with Tymoshenko’s initial refusal to free up funds for the election have put the December 7 date in peril. Andriy Magera, deputy head of Ukraine’s Central Election Committee confirms the problem, indicating that the delays are causing the body to miss deadlines for getting things ready for the vote, making it more difficult to meet the target date.
As usual in Ukrainian politics, things get more chaotic, confusing and unbelievable. First, a Kyiv court initially suspended Yushchenko’s decree calling for a new election. In a bizarre move, Yushchenko in a blatant abuse of power, acutally had the nerve to issue decree 922/2008, which abolishes and reorganizes the Kyiv District Court that suspended his decree. A higher court has since overturned the district court’s ruling, leaving the election in limbo.
In another incident, a criminal case has been filed against members of the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc (BYuT), alleging they pressured the Kyiv District Court to block the election. According to acting Security Council Chief Valentyn Nalyvaichenko, the court chairman said he had been subject to intimidation by BYuT members. Specifically, four BYuT members stayed in the court chairman’s office throughout October 11, threatening to throw him out the window and beating on his hands to prevent him from using his computer. The judge now has round-the-clock protection.
On October 16, Ukraine’s Cabinet of Ministers finally approved the disbursement of funds for the early election. The relevant amendments to the state budget should come up for a vote in the Verkhovna Rada next Tuesday.
Finally, Tymoshenko announced her willingness to accept any conditions from President Yushchenko to re-form the majority democratic coalition and cancel his decree for the pre-term election.
I really don’t know what to say about all this. It is hard to believe Yushchenko would reorganize a court just because he did not like their decision. I also find it shocking that BYuT members would actually threaten a judge to rule in their favor.
Unfortunately, things have gotten to the point where nothing in Ukrainian politics should surprise us. Obviously, the country’s politicians will do anything to get their way. Whether looking back to the Kuchma regime, the 2004 Orange Revolution or today’s shenanigans, it’s all more of the same. A reader from Ukraine recently wrote me and said if the election occurs, even if people do not go to the polls and vote, fraudulent votes on their behalf will still be counted. I just don’t understand how the Ukrainian people can continue to put up with this kind of activity. I guess reform is still a long ways away.
The court hearings along with Tymoshenko’s initial refusal to free up funds for the election have put the December 7 date in peril. Andriy Magera, deputy head of Ukraine’s Central Election Committee confirms the problem, indicating that the delays are causing the body to miss deadlines for getting things ready for the vote, making it more difficult to meet the target date.
As usual in Ukrainian politics, things get more chaotic, confusing and unbelievable. First, a Kyiv court initially suspended Yushchenko’s decree calling for a new election. In a bizarre move, Yushchenko in a blatant abuse of power, acutally had the nerve to issue decree 922/2008, which abolishes and reorganizes the Kyiv District Court that suspended his decree. A higher court has since overturned the district court’s ruling, leaving the election in limbo.
In another incident, a criminal case has been filed against members of the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc (BYuT), alleging they pressured the Kyiv District Court to block the election. According to acting Security Council Chief Valentyn Nalyvaichenko, the court chairman said he had been subject to intimidation by BYuT members. Specifically, four BYuT members stayed in the court chairman’s office throughout October 11, threatening to throw him out the window and beating on his hands to prevent him from using his computer. The judge now has round-the-clock protection.
On October 16, Ukraine’s Cabinet of Ministers finally approved the disbursement of funds for the early election. The relevant amendments to the state budget should come up for a vote in the Verkhovna Rada next Tuesday.
Finally, Tymoshenko announced her willingness to accept any conditions from President Yushchenko to re-form the majority democratic coalition and cancel his decree for the pre-term election.
I really don’t know what to say about all this. It is hard to believe Yushchenko would reorganize a court just because he did not like their decision. I also find it shocking that BYuT members would actually threaten a judge to rule in their favor.
Unfortunately, things have gotten to the point where nothing in Ukrainian politics should surprise us. Obviously, the country’s politicians will do anything to get their way. Whether looking back to the Kuchma regime, the 2004 Orange Revolution or today’s shenanigans, it’s all more of the same. A reader from Ukraine recently wrote me and said if the election occurs, even if people do not go to the polls and vote, fraudulent votes on their behalf will still be counted. I just don’t understand how the Ukrainian people can continue to put up with this kind of activity. I guess reform is still a long ways away.
The former Soviet territory always had two troubles: roads and fools. But life goes on, and the list of troubles gets certain national colour. It seems, that in Ukraine now it is necessary to be afraid not only of "fools" and "roads", but “ crisis struggle” and “Euro 2012 preparation”.
http://ua-ru-news.blogspot.com/2009/01/shvonders-struggle-with-crisis.html
Posted by: Alex | February 7, 2009 12:08 PM