euro|topics - Yulia Tymoshenko heads Ukrainian government

Main focus of Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Yulia Tymoshenko heads Ukrainian government

About two years since her first government failed, Yulia Tymoshenko has been elected prime minister by the Ukrainian parliament, with a paper-thin majority. The representative of the Orange Revolution now wants to guide the country toward the EU and NATO. How stable is her government?

Frankfurter Rundschau - Germany

Knut Krohn comments that Tymoshenko only won the election the third time around, and with a very slim majority. "The coalition of the 'Tymoshenko Block' and the presidential party, 'Our Ukraine,' is extremely fragile, resting on a majority of only two votes after the parliamentary election of 30 September... The depth of the gap between the two parties was already obvious during the coalition talks, which were overshadowed by serious tensions. Repeatedly, President Viktor Yushchenko pushed to include Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych's 'Party of Regions,' whose 175 seats make it the strongest parliamentary fraction, in a kind of grand coalition... But the president's goal was doubtless also to minimize Tymoshenko's influence within the government. And in the end she assiduously refused to make any pacts with Yanukovych." (19/12/2007)

Financial Times - United Kingdom

The daily considers that "Ms Tymoshenko will struggle to retain power. She and Mr Yushchenko must create a better relationship. The two, who were briefly united in the 2004 Orange Revolution, fell out soon afterwards ... . The policy differences between Mr Yushchenko and Ms Tymoshenko have narrowed since 2005. The prime minister has moved closer to the president's west-oriented agenda, including integration with the European Union and Nato. She has tempered her assaults on business, yet is still determined to fight corruption. ... The economic priorities should be reducing corruption, cutting red tape, completing privatisation and reforming the murky energy sector. World Trade Organisation accession, long Mr Yushchenko's top economic aim, must now go ahead. Although the economy is growing fast, Ukraine has no time to waste. Widespread poverty, poor infrastructure and inadequate public services all need urgent attention." (19/12/2007)

Neue Zürcher Zeitung - Switzerland

With the election of Yulia Tymoshenko, everyone in Ukraine must learn to make compromises, suggests Reinhard Meier. "But especially President Yushchenko, who tends toward hesitancy, must decide to cooperate and overcome his personal animosity against the populist Tymoshenko, if the new orange government is to have a fair chance of accomplishing anything. Generally, Yulia Tymoshenko has better political cards for the future than does her orange partner and opponent in the government: By the time the next presidential elections roll around in the end of 2008, she ought to have a good chance of reaching the top position in the government – even if her career as prime minister is short-lived this time, too... But that is pure speculation about the future. All we know for sure is that Ukraine today is far more pluralistic and more open than its large neighbour to the east, Russia, in its election of grass-roots representatives as well as top officials." (19/12/2007)

Sme - Slovakia

Peter Morvay notes the problems facing the new Ukrainian prime minister: "The economic crisis in the country has deepened since her first stint in the government. It is questionable whether Yulia Tymoshenko of all people can do something about the persistent corruption linked to privatisation. She is no innocent lamb herself in this area. Aside from that, there are still centrifugal tendencies in eastern Ukraine, which feels closer to Moscow than to Kiev. And Moscow will see to it that its strategically important neighbour does not ask for membership in NATO. The outcome of the battle for Ukraine can be determined through the behaviour of the West. The West must be clear that the current Ukrainian administration, in spite of everything, is the best solution." (19/12/2007)

» To the complete press review of Wednesday, December 19, 2007

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