Winds of change

[acrzybear]

 Interesting how things change, is this good or bad?  How do you think it will affect the citizens of the Ukraine. This is not not a shy gourp so let's hear all opinions, one and all.



KIEV, Ukraine - President Viktor Yushchenko fired his 7-month-old government Thursday, dismissing his dynamic prime minister -- the heroine of the Orange Revolution that swept him to power -- and accepting the resignation of one of the movement's top financial backers.

  The government breakup, amid allegations of corruption, deepened a crisis that has diminished the popularity of the man whose dioxin poisoning and defiant stand against election fraud seized the world's attention last year.
It also left Yushchenko looking isolated, especially in contrast to the broad coalition that joined in the mass protests on Independence Square that many Ukrainians saw as a fresh start for their country.

"We've stepped away from the goals of the revolution," the president told the Ukrainian people, saying he had to act against his friends for the sake of the nation. He accused Cabinet members of focusing more on infighting than running the country of 48 million.

"I could not pretend that nothing was happening. Not for this did I survive a poisoning. Not for this did people stand on the square. I had to take radical steps," said Yushchenko, who rose to power on promises to end the corruption that blackened the reign of his predecessor, Leonid Kuchma.

But the dissolution of the government led by charismatic Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and acceptance of tycoon Petro Poroshenko's resignation from the powerful Security and Defense Council came at a dangerous time. Parliamentary elections are six months away, and Yushchenko must win to cement his political gains.

Instead, he could face a strong challenge from Tymoshenko, whose personal style, combining up-to-the-minute couture with a traditional blond braid ringing her head, made her a highly telegenic symbol during the demonstrations late last year.

She has since chafed at having to stifle her more radical impulses in the interests of keeping Yushchenko's team together, and her popularity -- reflected by the chants of "Yulia!" that often drowned out Yushchenko's speeches -- has not diminished.

"The thing that the president did today can only be called a betrayal," said Valentyn Zubov, who speaks on behalf of Tymoshenko's parliamentary faction.

Yushchenko's popularity already was waning. Opinion polls showed Ukrainians increasingly believe the country is headed in the wrong direction, citing rising prices and lack of progress by the new government. Many greeted Thursday's announcement with surprise and more disappointment.

"Ukraine is historically not lucky with its leaders, and each time less hope remains," said student Olena Udod.

Thursday's dismissals came after Poroshenko, whose agency controls Ukraine's military and law-enforcement services, and other top presidential aides were accused of corruption by some of their former Orange Revolution allies. Yushchenko called the allegations "groundless but very strong," saying they demanded a response.

"The key issue was the issue of trust," he said. "If there had been a possibility to preserve team spirit, to remain together, it would have been the best answer."

He later said that Poroshenko and Tymoshenko remained his friends and he hoped they would remain part of his team, but that they must agree to work together. He did not specify whether this meant he would consider welcoming them back into government or just count on their support in parliamentary campaigning.

Yushchenko is particularly close to Poroshenko, and is the godfather of one of his twins. "I considered, consider and will consider myself part of the president's team," Poroshenko said Thursday. "I don't see myself not being next to the president."

The president's ties with Tymoshenko were always more tenuous and showed signs of fraying in recent months over some of her government's decisions.

Her spokesman refused to comment. "Let the president speak his mind today; tomorrow we will comment," Vitaliy Chepinoga said. The ousted prime minister met with her Cabinet later Thursday, thanked them for their work, and promised that they would "come back."

To replace her, Yushchenko appointed Yuriy Yekhanurov, a former economics minister and current regional governor, as acting prime minister. He asked other ministers to stay on until a new Cabinet is named.
Seeking to reassure foreign allies, Yushchenko spoke with neighboring leaders to tell them Ukraine was not having a political crisis.
In Washington, U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said the shake-up was nothing alarming but only part of Ukraine's political transformation as a young democracy: "This is part of the democratic process. It's not always neat."
Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski echoed that sentiment and said bilateral relations would remain solid.
But some analysts warned Yushchenko's image could be hurt.
"Doubts had already emerged about his ability to make decisions, which are beginning to damage his image not only in Ukraine but also abroad," said Oleksandr Lytvynenko, a political analyst with the Razumkov think tank.
But lawmaker Yuriy Kliuchkovskiy said Yushchenko's move only showed his strong hand. "The force that the president demonstrated today gives hope for the future," he said.
Four top officials have resigned since Saturday, including Vice Prime Minister Mykola Tomenko, who accused Poroshenko and others of corruption. The Security Service has ordered a probe into those allegations, and Poroshenko said he was resigning to avoid the appearance of putting pressure on the investigation.

 

Written by MARA D. BELLABY, Associated press

[Bruno]

It was in our news from today...

Good or not, it is difficult to judge now... it is good because Yushchenko wish remove all type of corruption, same when it is his "friend"... it is bad for the stability of country...

About my personal thinking, it is good... these first minister was a beautiful woman who can very manipulate media but she have a dark past with several story of corruption... now, what will happen with her... she is not more protected by diplomatic immunity and Russia have always some complain against her...

Ukraine is on the way to be a real democratie, but it is not a easy way... some baggage from the past are always present... i hope that it is a evolution to the good way and not a revolution!!!

[acrzybear]

I think for the long run it was a good move by President Viktor Yushchenko, it shows he is putting the country above his friends and he is doing the job the best he can.  Democracy is never easy, especially when the politicians have been doing business a certain way for so long. 

  The main problem is if his opponants get the people to lose confidence in their leader and vote to remove him and then the country ends up taking several steps backward instead of forward.  I think Yulia Tymoshenko will become a real thorn in President Viktor Yushchenko butt and cause him problems whenever she or her backers can, unless of course Putin has a warant issued for her arrest for her alleged past crimes.  I don't think he would do that, it would more beneficial to have her being a pain in President Viktor Yushchenko's butt then having her sitting in a gulag somewhere.

 I believe Ukraine is in for more turmoil the next six months, we shall she.  As a great song writer/singer (Bob Dylan) once said "the times, they are a changin".

 

And now a word from our legal department (you know how Americans love their lawyers and suing each other over the most trivial things)

  The above response is just the sole opinion of a lowly civil servant of the United States Government and is not meant to reflect the views or opinions of this website, Dan the Man or even the Anonymous and all powerful Moderator.  And if you don't like it-sue me

[philb]

Timoshenko will be addressing the country tonight at 8PM Kiev time.  The real question is how high does the corruption go?  Yushechenko is not lily white either.  Look at his son and some of his appointments.  Also, he has still failed to move on the Ganzaga case.

[wxman]

She has great power in parliment and could cause the coalition to break up. They may not give a positive vote for the new PM if she decides to oppose Yushchenko. I have a feeling it will be a lame duck presidency until the parlimentary elections this spring. When those elections occur the new constituiton stripping the president of much of his powers will go into effect. Timoshenko will become head of parliment, and in fact the one with the true power. I don't think she will cause much problems now. She is a very cunning leader and will wait for true power this spring.

[wxman]

The dollar and the Euro have gone up quite bit sunce this has happened.

http://www.mignews.com.ua/en/articles/175588.html

[Photo Guy]

Who can we trust more, Yushchenko or Timoshenko? It is not easy to determine from this vantage point. I'd like to hear from some Ukrainians on this. Who was reponsible for dropping the requirement for visas?  for the concept of 'Eurovision'? Who is the best person to lead the fight against corruption and develop the economy?  Doug

[BC]

[user=134]Photo Guy[/user] wrote:

I'd like to hear from some Ukrainians on this.

This is probably the last place you will get the answers you are looking for.

[Elen]

Who can we trust more, Yushchenko or Timoshenko?

PUTIN!

for me it all looks like politic games with building "right" opposition  before parlament election.

[wxman]

Interesting article on her response today.

http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/swissinfo.html?siteSect=143&sid=6074294&cKey=1126299915000

[wxman]

She has it all figured out! Very cunning politician!

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apeurope_story.asp?category=1103&slug=Ukraine%20Tymoshenko

[Bruno]

Beautiful and dangerous :cool:

[Elen]

like a snake

[Rvrwind]

Who can we trust more, Yushchenko or Timoshenko?

In all the stuff I been reading & following over here I wouldn't trust Timoshenko as far as I could spit!! she has been picking a fight with Russia since she got elected & in my opinion Yushchenko did the only thing he could do and had to do.

She started her own personal vendeta against Gazprom & now the entire country is going to pay. She has been instrimental in cancelling deals with Russian corporations & sending them packing & not even giving them compensation for the property she siezed.

Elen is correct, the woman is a snake & by the way would be arrested if she ever came to Russia as she hs been wanted for a long time. Seems even criminals can get into politics, course I thought all politicians were criminals anyway.:(Probably explains her dislike & vendetta against Russia & Russian buisness, of course she conveniently forgets about the billions of liters of Russian gas that was stored in underground storage in Ukraine that just seemed to disappear & refuses to pay for it. The womans a backstabbing cow, looks can be very decieving.

RVR

Canadian Cowboy

[acrzybear]

HHMMMM, She no longer has diplomatic status and I remember something about Russia having some type of warrant for her.  It's abit hard to run for a political office if your sitting in the gulag of another country.