Honeymoon over
Nema dostupnih prijevoda.
Honeymoon over
The score card is in, President Viktor Yanukovych’s actions in the last eight months have been anti-democratic and destructive to the nation.
The honeymoon for President Viktor Yanukovych is over. The international community needs to stop turning a blind eye to the sinister and anti-democratic character of this constitution-trampling politician.
When Yanukovych took over as president on Feb. 25, we shared the hopes of investors and Ukraine’s partners abroad that Yanukovych would bring political stability in a fair and democratic way, as well as economic prosperity by fixing Ukraine’s ailing economy. But our expectations were sober-minded, given Yanukovych’s history.
We remembered his record well, starting with two stints behind bars as a youth, his tenure as prime minister in 2004 when Ukraine’s largest steel mill was non-transparently auctioned off to allied oligarchs, not to mention the 2004 presidential election which was nearly stolen in his favor by massive vote rigging.
Unfortunately, Yanukovych has, in his first eight months in power, proven that our caution and fears about him were on target. By far, the focus in his first eight months in power has been on strengthening his long-term hold on power by bending and outright violating any rational interpretation of Ukraine’s constitution – not on delivering economic reforms. Despite holding a monopoly on power and the backing Ukraine’s richest oligarchs, Yanukovych has failed to clean up Ukraine’s sick economy. It remains dominated by his close billionaire backers, shady inside dealings and corruption.
There is still no sign of a progressive tax code that would lift Ukraine’s struggling small- and medium-sized business out of the black market, and put average Ukrainians and investors on equal footing with oligarchs. Without this, Ukraine lacks another pillar of growth, leaving its economy vulnerable, unbalanced and dependent on oligarch-controlled industry that milk the nation of its natural resources, sharing little wealth with common citizens.
Squashing of opposition candidates and media in the run-up to the Oct. 31 vote – and growing signs that vote fraud could be at play – show that competition in politics and government is also not welcome. What is welcome for Yanukovych and his oligarch backers who see Ukraine as a corporation of their own is closer relations with an authoritarian Russia, one which could soon join them as a major shareholder in the nation. To top it off, Yanukovych's judicial reforms offer citizens and oppositionists no independent courts to appeal to.
The scorecard is in. It’s undeniable. Ignoring Yanukovych’s anti-democratic actions with the false hope that he would respond by delivering changes that stabilize Ukraine economically and bring it closer to European Union standards has proved naive. Brussels, Washington and others who care for Ukraine should honestly assess his actions thus far and his handling of the Oct. 31 election. It’s time to call a spade a spade.
The honeymoon for President Viktor Yanukovych is over. The international community needs to stop turning a blind eye to the sinister and anti-democratic character of this constitution-trampling politician.
When Yanukovych took over as president on Feb. 25, we shared the hopes of investors and Ukraine’s partners abroad that Yanukovych would bring political stability in a fair and democratic way, as well as economic prosperity by fixing Ukraine’s ailing economy. But our expectations were sober-minded, given Yanukovych’s history.
We remembered his record well, starting with two stints behind bars as a youth, his tenure as prime minister in 2004 when Ukraine’s largest steel mill was non-transparently auctioned off to allied oligarchs, not to mention the 2004 presidential election which was nearly stolen in his favor by massive vote rigging.
Unfortunately, Yanukovych has, in his first eight months in power, proven that our caution and fears about him were on target. By far, the focus in his first eight months in power has been on strengthening his long-term hold on power by bending and outright violating any rational interpretation of Ukraine’s constitution – not on delivering economic reforms. Despite holding a monopoly on power and the backing Ukraine’s richest oligarchs, Yanukovych has failed to clean up Ukraine’s sick economy. It remains dominated by his close billionaire backers, shady inside dealings and corruption.
There is still no sign of a progressive tax code that would lift Ukraine’s struggling small- and medium-sized business out of the black market, and put average Ukrainians and investors on equal footing with oligarchs. Without this, Ukraine lacks another pillar of growth, leaving its economy vulnerable, unbalanced and dependent on oligarch-controlled industry that milk the nation of its natural resources, sharing little wealth with common citizens.
Squashing of opposition candidates and media in the run-up to the Oct. 31 vote – and growing signs that vote fraud could be at play – show that competition in politics and government is also not welcome. What is welcome for Yanukovych and his oligarch backers who see Ukraine as a corporation of their own is closer relations with an authoritarian Russia, one which could soon join them as a major shareholder in the nation. To top it off, Yanukovych's judicial reforms offer citizens and oppositionists no independent courts to appeal to.
The scorecard is in. It’s undeniable. Ignoring Yanukovych’s anti-democratic actions with the false hope that he would respond by delivering changes that stabilize Ukraine economically and bring it closer to European Union standards has proved naive. Brussels, Washington and others who care for Ukraine should honestly assess his actions thus far and his handling of the Oct. 31 election. It’s time to call a spade a spade.
