Blue &Yellow: Politics and Economics in Ukraine

The common threat could bring them together in standing up to the candidate for autocracy. Yuliya Tymoshenko has an ace up her sleeve for this occasion. Every time Viktor Yushchenko tries to have the current Constitution revised, she will insist on pre-term presidential elections since the revision entails a change in the scope of presidential powers. Should Yushchenko drive the Prime Minister to the end of her tether, she will work to have the Supreme Court decision on the so-called “third round” of the 2004 election annulled; the idea being as unlawful as Yushchenko’s plan to reverse the political reform.

The plan of the Party of Regions is much simpler. They are going to stand on the sidelines, letting Tymoshenko and Yushchenko to destroy each other and lending a “helping hand” to either party as needed. They think it will facilitate and speed up their return to power. In their opinion, the economic crisis will help them attain their goal.

The Party of Regions is still in favour of the snap elections. They promote the idea of allocating funds for the election campaign from the 2009 state budget. They could even refuse to vote for the budget if Tymoshenko ignores their demands. The Party of Regions should remember, however, that they risk losing voters if they block the adoption of the budget in the midst of economic hardships.

Leaders of the Party of Regions are considering withdrawing from the Verkhovna Rada, which would make early elections unavoidable. Yet Yanukovych and his crew are saving this scenario for later. They are waiting for Tymoshenko’s popularity rating to hit rock-bottom. As for Yushchenko’s rating, the Party of Regions has long stopped paying attention to these figures.