The political season in 2011 has been notable for reforms, although the attitude of the population towards them is ambiguous, Ukrainian experts have said.
According to President of the Open Policy Center Ihor Zhdanov, "the standoffish attitude to the Customs Union" and the priority course to European integration were the most important events in the foreign policy of Ukraine.
The expert said that the court proceedings against Former Ukrainian Premier Yulia Tymoshenko and Former Ukrainian Interior Minister Yuriy Lutsenko were important events in the domestic policy of Ukraine, while pension reform was an important event in the social and economic life of the country.
Among the positive changes, Zhdanov named the adoption of the law on access to public information, the cancellation of the technical inspection of cars, and a package of bills to fight corruption.
The expert also noted the negative reaction of the public to pension reform but forecast that there will be no mass protests, although the public’s negative attitude will increase.
In general, according to Zhdanov, the rating of the ruling political force and the president continues dropping, while at the same time the rating of the opposition is not rising.
In turn, Director of the Situations Modeling Agency Vitaliy Bala said that the main mistake of the authorities was implementing reforms without extended public discussions.
"The absence of a social dialogue is a problem for the authorities," he said.
According to the expert, many reforms that are being implemented are necessary for the country and they are rather positive, but the population has not enough information about them.
Bala added that 2011 and 2012 could be key years for Ukraine, as they will show how the country will develop over the next ten years.
