The Orange Revolution strengthened democracy in Ukraine

Current president and beacon of hope for the democratic movement in Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko may stand no chance of being reelected, but that doesn't mean the Orange Revolution was unsuccessful, writes the left-liberal Süddeutsche Zeitung: "What it does mean is that the outcome of the run-off vote in three weeks' time remains open. The country now has a true opposition in parliament and a multifaceted media landscape. And the unstable democracy can take further hope from the fact that all of the country's top-ranking politicians, even Viktor Yanukovych from the Russian-speaking eastern region, want to prevent Moscow from regaining control over the country. And most Ukrainian industrialists agree. There is unity over rapprochement with the European Union, although the country's democratic institutions must be further strengthened for any fruitful cooperation with Europe to take place."

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