“Winners’ convention”

For Ukrainian politics the Ukrainian House is a special building. One might even describe it as symbolic. The center of inner parliamentary power was transferred here in 2000.

Something like this happened here on Nov. 10, 2006, when the anticrisis coalition held a convention here on an unprecedented scale. A red carpet and flags of the Party of Regions and Socialist Party were at the entrance, and the stage outfitted with the latest technology. Everything was designed to emphasize the “winners’” omnipotence. “A hundred days of this government is the most outstanding event in the history of Ukraine,” Raisa Bohatyriova declared, stressing the importance of the event.

Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych was the next to take the floor and immediately made the “sensational” announcement that work on the idea to create a broad coalition is underway. He is convinced that “not all opportunities for unification have been used...”it is necessary to seek and find understanding.” As for why this broad coalition did not work, the prime minister accused certain members of parliament of slowing down the formation of a broad coalition, as well as of political extremism. He quoted a well-known character from an old Soviet film: “Regardless of whether or not there is life on the Mars, the New Year will come.”

Among the achievements reached during his 100 days in office, the prime minister mentioned the 6.2 increase in the GDP and the signing of gas supply accords with Russia. “We succeeded in agreeing on guaranteed gas supplies at Europe’s lowest price of 130 dollars per 1,000 cubic meters until 2010. This will allow us to preserve our enterprises and spend the winter in warmth,” the head of the Ukrainian government assured his listeners.

Yanukovych also said that the government has succeeded in lowering the price of oil by means of market methods and maintaining a stable situation in the sphere of food supplies. “Here we also acted in keeping with exclusively market methods,” Yanukovych declared.

The Ukrainian leader announced that the government has completed timely preparations for the heating season and balanced foreign policy. “After a long period of cool relations with Russia we sat down again at the negotiating table. We agreed to lift the ban on Ukrainian food supplies and are now negotiating Ukrainian electricity sales.”

Yanukovych also stressed that his government has succeeded in “clarifying relations with NATO... We have deepened the dialogue without speeding up the question of joining the alliance. This allows the exponents of Ukraine’s NATO membership to analyze why and what they want to join. Those who oppose it can think over why they are protesting, and whether they are doing so against real or perceived threats — these are society’s demands.”

BYuT leader Yulia Tymoshenko also assessed Yanukovych’s 100 days in power on Nov. 10. She called on politicians and MPs to unite to achieve Prime Minister Yanukovych’s dismissal: “I am convinced that this celebration of the Party of Regions will not last long. I would like us to simply concentrate all our forces and for all parliamentarians and politicians aware of the scope of this disaster to muster the courage to finally unite.”

She said that Yanukovych’s government should “hire not economists and political scientists but perhaps Kashpirovsky or Alan Chumak to somehow put an end to the hatred that will increase in proportion to this budget’s disbursements.” She also mentioned “Yanukovych’s team.”

“Whereas before it was ‘beloved friends,’ now it is ‘dear friends.’ They are dear indeed because friends have never cost this country so much before,” Tymoshenko pointed out.

Our Ukraine’s Roman Zvarych made a very accurate observation about the first 100 days of the Yanukovych cabinet. He said its most spectacular achievement was that for the first time the Party of Regions and the socialists have allowed communists to take power.

True, a number of OU people know how to make eloquent statements. Routine office work is another matter. Here they suffered a fiasco. Will the current “winners” cope with this routine? One hundred days is too short a period to understand the situation.

Another important matter is that the current government represents only part of Ukraine and whether it is the larger part remains questionable, considering the socialists’ somersault. What they did is plant a time bomb for the “anticrisis coalition.” So it is too early to celebrate, gentlemen. You ought to have behaved in a more modest manner.

Vadym KARASIOV, political scientist:

What kind of success of this government can be discussed if it is not even formed? Several ministerial posts are hanging in mid-air. There is a parallel process of the transition from one political system to another. I would simply regard as achievements of the present government not so much the apparent, visible successes as the absence of obvious failures. The absence of such fiascos, shocking price jumps, sugar, gasoline, and other crises are some of the main achievements of this government.

In the past 100 days the coalition has not been impressive; it has lightly shaken up the political situation but not “burned up the sea.” Therefore, I would not use such pomp to mark the first 100 days in office.