ukraine - orange splits
WORKERS, OCT 2005 ISSUE
The Western-backed "orange revolution" in Ukraine of less than a year ago is in trouble, with splits in the leadership and corruption in high places. President Yushchenko has had to sack his entire government, including the Prime Minister, Yulia Timoshenko, a billionaire gas oligarch who was originally on Interpol's wanted list and the power behind the throne.
The various factions disagreed on how to divide the spoils of the Ukrainian economy and used the interesting tactic of re-nationalising certain industries and then privatising them — a move which had the eager backing of Western investors.
The new prime minister is Yekhanurov, who only came to power after deals were made with last year's Russian candidate, and who was involved in the earlier privatisations of 1999-2001.
Next year's elections in March are expected to see more faction fighting, with Timoshenko seeking a return to power, and almost certainly more interference from the Russians, the European Union and the United States.
The Ukrainian people will need to avoid relapsing into cynicism, and instead reassert their authority over their legislature.