Yuliya Timoshenko (1961- ), the most effective female politician in the world today, the big winner in this situation.
The Ukraine’s parliamentary speaker announced on Tuesday the collapse of the country’s ruling pro-Western coalition, paving the way for possible early parliamentary elections. The coalition comprised blocs led by President Viktor Yushchenko and Prime Minister Yuliya Timoshenko. The two were allies in the 2004 “Orange Revolution”, but have since drifted apart on a host of issues, including the recent armed conflict between Russia and Georgia. “I am officially announcing the collapse of the coalition of democratic forces”, Arseniy Yatsenyuk told the Supreme Rada. The legislature now has 30 days to form a new coalition or face an early poll, the third since Yushchenko came to power.
The pro-presidential Our Ukraine withdrew from the coalition after Timoshenko’s bloc joined with the opposition pro-Russian Party of Regions, led by Viktor Yanukovich, to approve legislation substantially cutting presidential powers. Yushchenko called the move a “constitutional coup”. Ms Timoshenko earlier blocked a parliamentary vote to condemn Russia’s aggression in Georgia and resisted the president’s attempts to impose restrictions on Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, currently stationed in Ukraine’s Sevastopol port, as “populist”. Mr Yushchenko subsequently accused her of being a Kremlin agent.
A Ukrainian newspaper quoted on Tuesday a source in the Timoshenko bloc as saying the premier had ordered preparations for early elections. The source also said a new alliance with Yushchenko was highly unlikely. Ukrainskaya Pravda (Ukrainian Truth) also said, referring to the source, that the possibility of a coalition with Mr Yanukovich had not been discussed. Both Mr Yushchenko and Ms Timoshenko are expected to run in presidential elections due for 2010.
16 September 2008
RIA-Novosti
http://en.rian.ru/world/20080916/116832973.html
Editor’s Note:
The US policy in the near abroad is unravelling rapidly and catastrophically. Due to the 500-point crash on Wall Street, there is no money in the kitty for Yushchenko, let alone Saakashvili. This is going to reflect badly on the McCain campaign, as soon as the realisation sinks in. John McCain made a high-stakes crap shoot with Sarah Palin. If there is another US foreign policy defeat similar to that in Georgia (and Yushchenko’s defeat in parliamentary elections would be such), the McCain candidacy shall be dead in the water. His choice of Palin shall backfire, and a Reaganesque landslide for Obama would result (I am not advocating such, I am seeing such, there is a difference).
Mr McCain, you should have nominated Yuliya Timoshenko as your running mate. She would have been a plus for your ticket… oh; she’s not a US citizen? That’s no problem! Michael Chertoff could forge the necessary documents; he is greasy enough to do so. Certainly, she would be less of an albatross around your neck than Sarah Palin. Yuliya would eat up Obama in a trice!
I would LOVE to see a fantasy cat-fight between Hillary and Yuliya. I know who I have my money on! Better than even odds on Yuliya, I do daresay! Yuliya would scratch out Hillary’s eyes without hesitation.
BMD
