Ukranian Elections

[fluffybiscuits]

http://www.thejournal.ie/ukraine-ele...53733-Oct2012/

Tymoshenkos party didnt set the elections on fire but stood their ground., The current government is expected to stay in office and there will be an opposition of the three main parties.

President Viktor Yanukovych’s Regions Party has 35.03 per cent of the vote against 21.98 per cent for Tymoshenko’s opposition party, the central election commission said with half the precincts reporting in the proportional system that will determine half the seats in the new parliament.

[Slim Buddha]

Yanukovich bought the election. Bread and circuses for the masses and Tymoshenko's party lost ground. Vitaly Klitschko will see to it that fistfights are brought to a swift end as his party took 13% of the vote and a new far-right outfit called Svoboda took 8%Yanukovich's Party of the Regions took 37% but now the opposition is somewhat fragmented.

The fact of the matter is that Ukrainians in the lower economic categories do not think the economy is doing too badly. And these people, all over the Ukraine, voted for Yanukovich in large numbers. The east of the country votes for him and the fact that Tymoshenko is in jail led many to look around for a different sort of opposition. Klitschko's party did better than expected and this other lot look to be a bit unsavoury.

Despite, or maybe because of, Klitschko's and Svoboda's presence in the next Rada, expect fireworks ahead.

[C. Flower]

Yanukovich bought the election. Bread and circuses for the masses and Tymoshenko's party lost ground. Vitaly Klitschko will see to it that fistfights are brought to a swift end as his party took 13% of the vote and a new far-right outfit called Svoboda took 8% Yanukovich's Party of the Regions took 37% but now the opposition is somewhat fragmented.

The fact of the matter is that Ukrainians in the lower economic categories do not think the economy is doing too badly. And these people, all over the Ukraine, voted for Yanukovich in large numbers. The east of the country votes for him and the fact that Tymoshenko is in jail led many to look around for a different sort of opposition. Klitschko's party did better than expected and this other lot look to be a bit unsavoury.

Despite, or maybe because of, Klitschko's and Svoboda's presence in the next Rada, expect fireworks ahead.

What is the Ukrainian economy doing that is making people feel that way? Is agriculture up and running properly, post collectives?

[Slim Buddha]

What is the Ukrainian economy doing that is making people feel that way? Is agriculture up and running properly, post collectives?

Agriculture is better than it was but could be so, so much more effective and productive. Ukraine, if managed properly, could almost feed Europe on its own. The potential is vast in agriculture but nobody will invest money there.

As for the economy overall, the gryvna exchange rate with the dollar is steady for the last 3 years at $1 = 8 gryvna approx. No serious inflation, employment is steady with about 6% unemployed. Many think "why change?"

[C. Flower]

Agriculture is better than it was but could be so, so much more effective and productive. Ukraine, if managed properly, could almost feed Europe on its own. The potential is vast in agriculture but nobody will invest money there.

As for the economy overall, the gryvna exchange rate with the dollar is steady for the last 3 years at $1 = 8 gryvna approx. No serious inflation, employment is steady with about 6% unemployed. Many think "why change?"

Looking at it from here, you could see their point.

There seems to be a crazy amount of unused agricultural land in Eastern Europe and Russia. Almost a problem of excess, as if they use it and get a bumper harvest, the wipe out the price for producers elsewhere in the world.

[Slim Buddha]

Looking at it from here, you could see their point.

There seems to be a crazy amount of unused agricultural land in Eastern Europe and Russia. Almost a problem of excess, as if they use it and get a bumper harvest, the wipe out the price for producers elsewhere in the world.

There is a lot of unused land in eastern Europe. But the land in Ukraine is of the best quality and great for crops. Syngenta, the Swiss agrisciences outfit, are in the Ukraine in an increasing manner raising the spectre of GM crops being developed on a vast scale. It does, however, seem to suit some vested interests having Ukrainian agriculture remain exactly as it is.

[fluffybiscuits]

Yanukovich bought the election. Bread and circuses for the masses and Tymoshenko's party lost ground. Vitaly Klitschko will see to it that fistfights are brought to a swift end as his party took 13% of the vote and a new far-right outfit called Svoboda took 8%Yanukovich's Party of the Regions took 37% but now the opposition is somewhat fragmented.

The fact of the matter is that Ukrainians in the lower economic categories do not think the economy is doing too badly. And these people, all over the Ukraine, voted for Yanukovich in large numbers. The east of the country votes for him and the fact that Tymoshenko is in jail led many to look around for a different sort of opposition. Klitschko's party did better than expected and this other lot look to be a bit unsavoury.

Despite, or maybe because of, Klitschko's and Svoboda's presence in the next Rada, expect fireworks ahead.

Was reading the Klitschkos party were running second in the pills behind Yanukovich and his party finishing fourth came as a surprise to many in the Ukranian electorate and the media. A fractured opposition, kind of reminds me of the ULA and SF vying for the positions here. Tymoshenko never appointed someone to deputise in her place did she ? Yanukovich is fairly pro Russian and Moscow will be delighted with the news, its now a buffer state against EU influence in the region of sorts!

[Slim Buddha]

Was reading the Klitschkos party were running second in the pills behind Yanukovich and his party finishing fourth came as a surprise to many in the Ukranian electorate and the media. A fractured opposition, kind of reminds me of the ULA and SF vying for the positions here. Tymoshenko never appointed someone to deputise in her place did she ? Yanukovich is fairly pro Russian and Moscow will be delighted with the news, its now a buffer state against EU influence in the region of sorts!

Putin cant stand Yanukovich. He strangely was able to do business with Tymoshenko and this is what landed her in jail. She is alleged to have got paid $4,000,000 for the gas deal she did with Putin. Putin is said to believe her jailing is a bit crass. And he offered the Ukrainian government medical assistance for Tymoshenko in a Russian hospital if she needed it. In August Putin paid a visit to the Russian naval station in Sevastopol and instead of meeting Yanukovich straight afterwards, hung out with bikers fo 2 hours in a bar, then met Yanukovich.

Politically Yanukovich may be pro-Moscow but he has no personal relationship at all with the man in the saddle in Moscow and that guy is not going anywhere soon.

[fluffybiscuits]

Putin cant stand Yanukovich. He strangely was able to do business with Tymoshenko and this is what landed her in jail. She is alleged to have got paid $4,000,000 for the gas deal she did with Putin. Putin is said to believe her jailing is a bit crass. And he offered the Ukrainian government medical assistance for Tymoshenko in a Russian hospital if she needed it. In August Putin paid a visit to the Russian naval station in Sevastopol and instead of meeting Yanukovich straight afterwards, hung out with bikers fo 2 hours in a bar, then met Yanukovich.

Politically Yanukovich may be pro-Moscow but he has no personal relationship at all with the man in the saddle in Moscow and that guy is not going anywhere soon.

Ah now that makes some sense about Tymoskenko. Thought Putin would have been keen to build a relationship with Yankovich. Ukraine act as a buffer with Russia from the EU would have kept Putin happy ....

[Slim Buddha]

Ah now that makes some sense about Tymoskenko. Thought Putin would have been keen to build a relationship with Yankovich. Ukraine act as a buffer with Russia from the EU would have kept Putin happy ....

Ideology plays little part in Ukrainian politics. Ideologically one would think that Yanukovich and Putin would have much in common. In fact, Putin and Tymoshenko got on well personally and could do business with each other. When Yanukovich is in power, as he will continue to be for the foreseeable future, Putin knows he he in effect dealing with Rinat Athmekov. This is the guy with the deep pockets who funds Yanukovich's Party of the Regions, a catch-all bunch of ideology-free opportunistic shyster bandits not unlike our very own Fianna Fail.

Athmekov also owns Shakhtar Donetsk FC, the Donbass Arena where they play and it is fair to say that without Athmekov, Ukraine would not have been able to host the Euro 2012 football tournament. He also owns a lot of the national electricity grid in the Ukraine which strtetches into Moldova and this, along with many of his other business dealings, brings him into conflict with other "businessmen", ones with access to the Kremlin.

[C. Flower]

Ideology plays little part in Ukrainian politics. Ideologically one would think that Yanukovich and Putin would have much in common. In fact, Putin and Tymoshenko got on well personally and could do business with each other. When Yanukovich is in power, as he will continue to be for the foreseeable future, Putin knows he he in effect dealing with Rinat Athmekov. This is the guy with the deep pockets who funds Yanukovich's Party of the Regions, a catch-all bunch of ideology-free opportunistic shyster bandits not unlike our very own Fianna Fail.

Athmekov also owns Shakhtar Donetsk FC, the Donbass Arena where they play and it is fair to say that without Athmekov, Ukraine would not have been able to host the Euro 2012 football tournament. He also owns a lot of the national electricity grid in the Ukraine which strtetches into Moldova and this, along with many of his other business dealings, brings him into conflict with other "businessmen", ones with access to the Kremlin.

The electoral strategy of using public money, once in power, to continue in power, is pretty successful so long as there is some public money to spend.

[Slim Buddha]

The electoral strategy of using public money, once in power, to continue in power, is pretty successful so long as there is some public money to spend.

"Public money" in the Ukraine has an extremely elastic definition.

[fluffybiscuits]

Ideology plays little part in Ukrainian politics. Ideologically one would think that Yanukovich and Putin would have much in common. In fact, Putin and Tymoshenko got on well personally and could do business with each other. When Yanukovich is in power, as he will continue to be for the foreseeable future, Putin knows he he in effect dealing with Rinat Athmekov. This is the guy with the deep pockets who funds Yanukovich's Party of the Regions, a catch-all bunch of ideology-free opportunistic shyster bandits not unlike our very own Fianna Fail.

Athmekov also owns Shakhtar Donetsk FC, the Donbass Arena where they play and it is fair to say that without Athmekov, Ukraine would not have been able to host the Euro 2012 football tournament. He also owns a lot of the national electricity grid in the Ukraine which strtetches into Moldova and this, along with many of his other business dealings, brings him into conflict with other "businessmen", ones with access to the Kremlin.

Tymoshenko mates with Putin?

In other news she has claimed that the elections may have been rigged. This article (http://www.upi.com/Top_News/Special/...7661351703516/) alleges that there was falsified voter lists so the votes were effectively ghost voters. NATO also had something to say on the issue calling it

"several shortcomings (in the election), including the lack of a level playing field and that certain aspects of the pre-election period constituted a step backward compared with recent elections."

[Slim Buddha]

Tymoshenko mates with Putin?

In other news she has claimed that the elections may have been rigged. This article (http://www.upi.com/Top_News/Special/...7661351703516/) alleges that there was falsified voter lists so the votes were effectively ghost voters. NATO also had something to say on the issue calling it

I would not say "mates" exactly but they got on together well enough to make sure the gas pipeline deal was achieved. When it was mooted earlier this year that she be allowed out of the country to get treatment for her severe back problems, Putin very publicly offered her " the best treatment possible* in Russia. While they are ideologically far apart, Tymoshenko is from Dnepropetrovsk and this may have something to do with why rthey seem to get on well together.

[Slim Buddha]

This has the potential to get nasty.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-20204527

A lot of "security personnel" one sees on the streets of Kiev are not police but uniformed thugs operating for private security firms in the pay of the government.