We all had high expectations as Yushchenko came into office. I sometimes worried if he could live up to them. But already he's proving to be that rarest of politicians -- one who does what he promised to do.
He promised to make Ukraine more open and democratic. It's gone under-reported in the West, but Yushchenko has just scrapped the Presidential Administration. Under Medvedchuk, the Admin was key to Kuchma's control of Ukrainian life. In its place will now be a Secretariat. While I don't yet have all the details, word is that this system will be much less geared toward social control.
Meanwhile, Poroshenko was appointed secretary of the the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC). He's going to follow through on another Yushchenko promise, and overhaul Ukraine's massive military and security structures. Another win for a free society. . .
Lastly, he's appointed nasha Yulia as Prime Minister, as he promised during the campaign. This was done despite foreign pressure to appoint a "moderate" (as if moderation in the face of corruption is a virtue.) If we had any doubts he might compromise away his victory, this appointment obliterates them. While lacking the erudition and gamine beauty of Yanukovych, Tymoshenko will be implacable in the fight for economic and social reform.
These appointments also point up Yushchenko's adroitness as a politician -- Zinchenko, Poroshenko and Tymoshenko were all rivals for the PM job. Yushchenko found acceptable positions for each of them, and announced the appointments the same day. Smart.
Other News:
- The General Prosecutor's office is investigating 139 violations of Ukrainian election laws during the previous campaign.
- Yushchenko is talking about reversing the Odessa-Brody pipeline. This is too complicated and lengthy to go into here, do a Google search for background on the issue.
- The last tent has been taken down on Kreshatik Street. While time, it's a little melancholy to see the tent city gone.
Posted by Discoshaman at janvier 25, 2005 07:52 AM | TrackBack
Rats, Disco; now you made me kind of sad about the tents being gone. You kind of put us in the midst of this history happening. But I am sticking around. Where you and the Tulip Missus are, is good to be around.
Posted by: Brian Greenwell at janvier 25, 2005 09:54 AM"While lacking the erudition and gamine beauty of Yanukovych..."
This quote seriously had me spewing tea out of my nose this morning. Well said.
Posted by: Connard at janvier 25, 2005 10:42 AM