The Speaker's saga has come to an end. The post of Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada went to a figure largely the result of compromise. He is neither hard Left, Centrist, and by no means a political leader.
At the same time, the new Speaker is an experienced and influential politician, not likely to play someone else's game. Now the Speaker is elected and Parliament is operational. How will Oleksandr Tkachenko behave under the circumstances? He also faces other tests: his attitude to the President's economic edicts and renewed subordination of the State Property Fund, to mention but a few. Considering pressure from the factions, Mr. Tkachenko will be hard put not to take a position, meaning that the consequences of his election will become evident in the very near future.






