International

Tensions high in Ukraine vote

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-02-08 07:45

Runoff results due today as voters weigh relations with Russia, Europe

KIEV: Ukrainians voted yesterday for a new president in a run-off between Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and opposition leader Viktor Yanukovich which could bring a fresh bout of instability to the country. Analysts expect a narrow victory for Yanukovich but Tymoshenko has threatened to call for protests in a replay of the 2004 "Orange Revolution" if she thinks the vote unfair.

A decisive outcome should reset the ex-Soviet republic's relations with Russia, which deteriorated under pro-Western President Viktor Yushchenko, and decide the speed of Ukraine's path into the European mainstream.

Any challenge to the election result will further hurt confidence in the crisis-hit economy and delay talks with the International Monetary Fund, which suspended its $16.4 billion bailout plan because of broken promises to control state spending.

The euphoria of 2004, when protests overturned the rigged results that gave Yanukovich victory, has disappeared after years of rowing amongst the Orange political elite that has paralyzed policy-making.

In the capital, which traditionally leans towards Tymoshenko, a sense of frustration and fatigue reigned.

"It would be terrible to vote for Tymoshenko. It would be shameful to vote for Yanukovich," said 27-year-old Natalya Zhuk. "Nothing in this country will change in the next five years."

Yanukovich, who heads the Regions Party, seeks mutually beneficial and friendly foreign policies, in contrast to Yushchenko's active pursuit of NATO membership and anti-Russian policies.

Tymoshenko, born in November 1960, allied herself with Yushchenko in the 2004 "Orange Revolution" to overturn a controversial election initially won by Yanukovich. She became Ukraine's first female prime minister in 2005, but the political honeymoon with Yushchenko was short-lived.

If Yanukovych wins, it will be an impressive reversal of fortune. This time around, he has added to his support base those who are disappointed with the Orange leaders and suffering from a deep economic crisis.

"I am sure that the Ukrainian nation deserves a better life," Yanukovich said, smiling and looking relaxed, after casting his vote.

Yanukovych backs Moscow on issues ranging from trade to security, but owes his political resurrection to his dogged determination and his oligarch friends who control the mines and factories of Ukraine's Russian-speaking east.

He won 10 percent more of the votes than Tymoshenko in the first round on Jan 17.

The personal antagonism between the slow-speaking, beefy Yanukovich, 59, and the petite, sharp-tongued Tymoshenko, 49, reflects the gulf between the Russian-speaking east and nationalist west.

In the east and south, people have faith in Yanukovich's consistency, his ability to do business with Russia and see him as a strong man shaped by a rough childhood. He has served twice as prime minister - the same as Tymoshenko.

"We lost five years of our lives thanks to Yushchenko and Tymoshenko," said Oleg Nochvyn, a miner in his 50s. "For five years they were promising us: Tomorrow will be better. Well I get up the next day and it's worse than the day before."

Both candidates say they want to integrate with Europe while improving ties with Moscow, though Tymoshenko is seen as more enthusiastic about the EU.

Reuters

(China Daily 02/08/2010 page12)