Sorry State

By Volodymyr Kish

Regular readers of this column may have noticed that for most of this year, I have been negligent in keeping you up to date with the state of political affairs in Ukraine.  I am sorry to admit that this has been a rather deliberate omission on my part.  It has not been due to the fact that there have not been any significant events in this sphere. On the contrary, rarely has a week gone by when Ukraine’s political arena does not cough up something significant, and usually outrageous.  The fault lies in the unfortunate reality that I am, to be blunt, sick and tired of the incompetence, the corruption and the sheer stupidity of what passes for politics and government in Ukraine.

President Victor Yushchenko has proven to be a spectacular failure as a head of state.  Although, I will give him credit for his efforts in supporting the Ukrainian language and promoting the cause of Holodomor awareness. In the practical matter of managing the economy and the government, he has demonstrated that it would have been better if he had undertaken being a full-time beekeeper.  He has spent most of his time and energy in a destructive political war with his Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko. 

Although Tymoshenko appears to have won that war, it comes at the heavy price of Ukraine having suffered several years of dysfunctional government that has all but destroyed people’s faith in any of the existing political parties.  Although I have some admiration for her as a shrewd political street-fighter, a true statesman and leader must have more weapons in their arsenal than just confrontation, a steely will and a disciplined but tightly controlled political organization. She has not demonstrated the much needed ability to draw together all the various democratic and nationalist constituencies into an effective coalition.  Diplomacy, compromise, creating common ground and a participative and inclusive leadership style seem to be beyond either her abilities or her desire.

Sadly, there are no viable alternatives to this dog’s breakfast of current Ukrainian political leaders. None of today’s politicians and parties have demonstrated that they have the slightest concern for the rights and the welfare of the long-suffering Ukrainian population. They all seem to be pre-occupied exclusively with gaining power at any cost, destroying their opponents and feathering their own nests.

In the meantime, the country suffers.  During the worst financial crisis in decades, the Ukrainian government is effectively paralyzed.  Four major cabinet posts sit vacant, the Ministers having become victims of the Yushchenko – Tymoshenko feud.  Parliamentary sittings often deteriorate into farce and physical confrontations.  It has become almost impossible to pass any kind of legislation.  Most politicians, instead of tackling the pressing issues of the day, are now focussing on the next elections, presidential and parliamentary, which will come in early 2010.  It seems that the only thing Ukrainian politicians ever do between elections is prepare for the next elections.

I am sure that Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, the current Russian Tsar and autocrat, must be chuckling every time he reads about what is going on in Ukraine.  I have no doubt that he and the well-oiled Russian machine are doing everything they can under the covers to encourage the anarchy and instability within their former colony.  They would dearly love to see Ukraine become a “failed state”.  Although the situation is not quite that dire yet, the outlook is not optimistic.  The sorry state of political affairs in Ukraine has caused it to be a sorry state indeed. 

As for the future, I fear nothing much will change for the better until the Ukrainian electorate succeed in electing a majority government, instead of the rag-tag coalitions of unstable and self-serving parties, factions and alliances that have been the norm for the past five years.  Until then, I will continue to find writing about politics in Ukraine a painful and depressing task.