Who Will Be Court Favorite?

Each side has its trumps and its capabilities. The government is employing its old, time-tested methods of coercion: a special commission headed by Deputy General Prosecutor Kolinko is examining the causes of non-payments in the electric power industry. And Mr. Pustovoitenko has already reported to the President on a transparent scheme to supply energy "directly through the NEC (National Electricity Company), leaving out dealers", which is currently being prepared for adoption. In their turn, regional interests also have something up their sleeve: now they are refining the law On Energy Market Operating Basis, said Oleksiy Kucherenko, Regional Revival Faction Cochairman. As a result, all efforts by the government will most likely come to naught. According to available information, Parliament is ready to adopt this law. Another important regional argument for the President is a way of meeting the state budget deficit. It will not be too difficult to convince the President that giving the Cabinet the possibility to administer and control the energy market would reduce allocations to the budget, while the President thinks that "the issue of settlements for electricity and social payments has a political character."