Ukrainian Election Seems to Be About Damage Control

Summary

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The good news is that nobody can predict the result of Ukraine's presidential election on Jan. 17, a sign of a healthy democracy. The incumbent, Viktor Yushchenko, who swept to power in the Orange Revolution in 2004-05, is almost certain to be voted out. But a second round of voting is likely to be needed between Yulia Tymoshenko, the prime minister and former orange ally of Yushchenko, and Viktor Yanukovich, a former prime minister who was the anti-Yushchenko loser then. In the fluid world of Ukrainian politics, allies become enemies and vice versa. Russia strongly backed Yanukovich in 2004. This time, the Kremlin would settle for either front-runner and has also promised no gas war this Christmas.

On paper, both Tymoshenko and Yanukovich are promising reforms. But Ukrainians know better than to believe promises. Tymoshenko's record in office is mixed. In two stints as prime minister, she reversed one of Ukraine's more controversial privatizations and scrapped an opaque intermediary in the gas trade between Russia and Ukraine. She has also held down public spending.

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Ukrainian Election Seems to Be About Damage Control

KIEV -- The good news is that nobody can predict the result of Ukraine's presidential election on Jan. 17, a sign of a healthy democracy. The incumbent, Viktor Yushchenko, who swept to power ...

See the full content of this document

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