Needed: A Watchdog for Democracy 

By Oksana Bashuk Hepburn

President Victor Yushchenko’s humiliation at the polls does not surprise.  Regrettably, neither the patriots in Ukraine nor the Diaspora were able to influence him to make changes before the electorate fled.  To his credit, he elevated national symbols and issues - recognition of the Holodomor and OUN-UPA, the pre-eminence of the Ukrainian language – but by themselves they were seriously insufficient for his comeback.  Worse, his personal discredit dragged Ukraine’s patriotic agenda down too.   

 Four years ago, after defaulting on promises of the Orange Revolution - criminals in jail; well-being for the people - Mr. Yushchenko started sinking in the polls.  Eventually, his ratings plunged over 50% yet none persuaded him to the obvious: govern like you said you would!  Patriots who felt betrayed - Levko Lukianenko, Borys Tarasiuk - left him.  The alarm went off months after he started protecting lubi druzi, his cronies, in the first of many gas fiascos and sounded for years while the electorate fled.  Yet backers at home and abroad hailed him as if the political catastrophe was not looming.

Despite abysmal ratings, there was no leadership review and no call for him to step down.  

Was it lack of political know-how in the President’s circle?  Was the once strong Nasha Ukraina influenced by well-intended but amateur politics of Diaspora organizations (the lack of English often brings Ukraine’s leaders to Diaspora circles) whose mandate is not to govern a country but to support Ukrainian patriotic symbols?  Did the drowning President grab on to this agenda and for that gained their fierce, albeit, misplaced loyalty? Or is there a darker plan?

For Mr. Yushchenko is not the only one defeated.  His defeat dragged down with him the patriotic agenda.  Now the oligarchs who care little for national symbols can point to less than 6% support rating for the Ukrainian patriotic agenda.   And smirk.

While the Diaspora is rightfully proud of its world view formulated, in the main, by Ukraine’s patriotic agenda, surely democratic values and political know-how gained in countries of residence influence it as well.  In Canada – as in most established democracies - political parties with leaders who lose followers are ousted.  Consider Richard Nixon in the U.S.  Or Canada’s John Diefenbaker, John Turner or Stphane Dion; all had to step down because they lost the people’s confidence.  The people are greater than a leader and there is no mercy for those who fail to recognize this tenet.  Why was this not understood in Ukraine by the patriots?  Why were they prepared to have their agenda sink rather than change leaders or force the incumbent to change? 

January’s first round presidential election was a wakeup call.  Did they learn anything?  Did the Diaspora?  Its leadership must go forward.  It must recognize, for instance, that politics is not a concert where children do their best to honour national heroes, endless meetings on minutiae, or photo ops with little political consequence.   Symbols are not enough to assist Ukraine when expertise in governance is limited.  Let’s face it: it is beyond the volunteer Diaspora structures to reign in oligarchs’ greed, create jobs, and eliminate corruption.  This is the job for a state government.  And the Diaspora will be relevant only if it can contribute here in addition to promoting national symbols.  And Ukraine’s leaders who deal with it must recognize this or face the consequences.  Did the Diaspora punch above its weight to promote national symbols and in doing, so fell short together with the President?

The lesson is this: leadership has consequences and Mr. Yushchenko paid a price.   If patriotic movements at home and abroad are to go forward rather than the way of the once powerful Rukh or, now perhaps, Our Ukraine, those responsible for their part in the President’s debacle must also pay.

However, hope springs eternal.  The patriotic leadership of Ukraine can yet salvage lost ground by meeting with both presidential contenders: world leaders talk with political foes all the time!  Tell Yulia Tymoshenko and Viktor Yanukovych that support will go to the one who will put criminals in jail AND champion the patriotic agenda.  Publicize the answers.  As the candidates court votes, the ability to influence presidential hopefuls lies with the patriots.  Grab it.  Redeem yourselves and the patriotic agenda.  

But be mindful of Mr. Yushchenko’s next moves.  If he is a true democrat, he will withdraw graciously from the political scene to do other important work, and  perhaps lead international organizations aiming to expose the horrors of Communism.  If he is being manipulated by anti-Ukraine interests, as may have been the case since the Orange Revolution - national symbols notwithstanding - he will work to undermine Ukraine’s free elections.  His most recent comments to support neither candidate are shocking and irresponsible and attest to his political dark side.  Such disdain for political due process must be condemned by democrats around the world.  Now there’s a role for the Diaspora: a watchdog for Ukraine’s democracy.    

 Oksana Bashuk Hepburn is a former executive of the Government of Canada and president of a consulting company facilitating interests between Canada and Ukraine. Her commentaries appear in international media.