BYUT and Party of Regions will join forces to topple Yushchenko – Volodymyr Kornilov

August22200819:03

Party of Regions leader Viktor Yanukovych

The sooner the presidential election, the bitter the feud among former Orange allies will become. It’s quite feasible that both the PR and BYUT will realize that the third player, Pres Yushchenko, can be dropped. Therefore, a temporary union of PR and BYUT is likely to initiate snap presidential election, director of the Institute of CIS countries (Ukrainian branch) Volodymyr Kornilov told ZIK Aug. 22.

Commenting on the list of most influential Ukrainians made by The Korrespondent, Kornilov says he has no doubt that Yulia Tymoshenko has one of the highest approval ratings in Ukraine, although he suspects the magazine’s links to the premier.

As regards voter support for Yanukovych, Kornilov says The Korrespondent was too early to put him down the list. “It is too early to discard the politician who has the highest or second highest rating,” he opines. He points out, however, that the fact that Yanukovych has kept a low profile in the last several months looks strange, as the presidential campaign is under way. He explains this by the need to prepare for the race. But to compete with Tymoshenko on an equal footing, Yanukovych has to start his campaign, he says.

As there is no alternative to Yanukovych in the PR, the party will soon start campaigning for him, he notes.

Verkhovna Rada is unlikely to operate smoothly until the presidential election: “Even if BYUT joins forces with the PR, the incumbent will derail the work of the parliament,” Kornilov forecasts. He also stresses that both BYUT and PR have no other priority goals than snap presidential election.

Comment by ZIK

Premier Tymoshenko tops the list of Ukraine’s most influential individuals according to The Korrespondent.

Rinat Akhmetov, PR lawmaker and tycoon, was placed second.

Third place was given to Viktor Yushchenko, down from the second position last year.

Fifth place is taken by tycoon Viktor Pinchuk, Ex-Pres Kuchma’s son-in-law.

The top ten also includes Viktor Yanukovych, tycoon Ihor Kolomojsky, Speaker Arseny Yatseniuk, NDSC head Rayisa Bohatyryova and First Vice Premier Oleksandr Turchynov, BYUT.

In 2007, the list included Viktor Yanukovych in the first place, followed by Viktor Yushchenko, Rinat Akhmetov and Yulia Tymoshenko.

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Comments

09:1423.08.08 UkrToday
- Ro..You do not help promote democratic values by acting undemocratic and undermining the development of democracy.. Yushchenko has achieved nothing other then to set back Ukraine 10 to 15 years. He had not valid reason or constitutional grounds to dismiss the Parliament in 2007. His interference in the independence and operation of Ukraine's Constitutional Court was illegal and grounds for his impeachment, Now he is seeking to undermine the parliament and then governement by making false, reckless and unsubstantiated accusations of high treason against Yulia Tymoshenko. If any one has acted in a treachous manner it is Yushchenko himslef. Sorry but he is now the problem and the sooner he stands down or is replaced the better off Ukraine will be. He has no respect owing him anymore he is anti-democratic and not acting ion Ukraine's best interest. All he does is destabilise Ukraine which is helping drive high inflation.
07:1723.08.08 Ro
- Yuschenko is the first president of Ukraine that can be fully monitored and scrutinized. The democracy is young and had not yet settled, and every other politician is fighting him to get power for themselves. Yuschenko dismissed parliament for the right reasons, and is doing as well as anybody could in his position.
01:1423.08.08 UkrToday
- Yushchenko has by all accounts destabilised and undermined the government at every step. It is difficult to see what if any chances there is to any future government working with the Presidential Office.
  ONE HAS TO SERIOUSLY QUESTION THE LOGIC AND AIMS OF THE PRESIDENT.
  All that we have witnessed is the ongoing and destructive power struggle between the Office of the President , who act more as the opposition or enemy from within.
  Yushchenko went to great steps in 2007 to dismiss,unconstitutionally the previous parliament, in the process he undermined Ukraine’s democratic development,even going so far as to illegally and unconstitutional interfering with the operation and independence of Ukraine’s highest judicial office “The constitutional Court of Ukraine”
  Yushchenko mush accept the sole responsibility for his actions which have done little to further Ukraine’s interests and if anything has seriously contributed to Ukraine’s high inflation rate.
  It is clear that the relationship between the Parliamentary Government and the Presidential Office is unreconcilable and something has to be done quickly.
  Yushchenko must be replaced as soon as possible. The question is by who?
  The longer Ukraine continues in this state of internal conflict the worst it gets.
  Yushchenko clearly can not work with anyone outside his immediate and limited circle of confidants.
  Surely this has not escaped the attention of the parliament and the Office of the President?
  Yushchenko knows that something must give and that his time asPresident is limited. He appears to be now embarked on a total campaign of self destruction and is taking Ukraine with him.
  The only option for Ukraine now is to hold a democratic revolution of governance.
  Modify Ukraine’s constitution removing all power from the office of the President and establish Ukraine as parliamentary democracy in line with other European States.
  The longer the delay the worst it will get.
  Yushchenko must resign or be impeached.