Ukraine is a democracy. Over 90 percent of the adult population voted in favour of a democratic system of government in 1990. These democratic principles are enshrined in both the declaration of independence and the Constitution. These are fundamental documents that formalise both our sovereignty and our nation status. These are not negotiable.
Some claim that those in power are being influenced by Moscow and if this is the case then Moscow too has got it very wrong indeed. For there is one trait to our national character that both would be wise to heed and that is that you cannot easily take away from a Ukrainian what he believes to be his by right. Democracy is our national choice.
So what is the solution to this growing impasse?
It certainly isn’t more censorship, a tighter crack down, more control and amendments to the constitution as these will only enflame the situation. The solution is to use democracy to create a system of political management that actually works for the nation rather than trying to patch over what has become a flawed and discredited pseudo-democracy.
Since December 2008 the People First Foundation has been looking at how democracy can be returned to Ukraine and what dialogue to suggest to those in power. The solution, as we discovered, is beautifully simple.
We looked into the history of democracy and found that the United States of America in the late 1700’s faced very similar constitutional problems to Ukraine today. Congressman James Madison lead a campaign to amend the Constitution with a series of acts designed to strengthen and protect the rights of the people and to place controls over the power of government.
In his letter of October 21st 1788 to fellow Congressman Thomas Jefferson Madison cited his reasoning for a Bill of Rights: “The political truths declared in that solemn manner (Bill of rights) acquire the character of fundamental maxims of free government and as they become incorporated with national sentiment, counteract the impulses of interest and passion… … yet there may be occasions on which the evil may spring from the latter source (Government); and on such, a bill of rights will be a good ground for an appeal to the sense of community.”
Madison was a man of the people who went on to become President. He placed the national interest well above that of himself and his compatriots.
The U.S. Bill of Rights has been a fundamental cornerstone of U.S. democracy for over 300 years. It has curbed the aspirations of over zealous politicians and given a foundation to a system of democracy that is seen the world over as a model of how democracy should work.
Not to be accused of promoting U.S. interests let us remind ourselves that theirs it is not the only example. In Great Britain in 1838 the working classes demanded their right to vote in free and fair elections. The rights they secured, through their People’s Charter, are today the foundation of British democracy and the democracies of the 54 states of the British Commonwealth.
Recently in Great Britain Prime Minister Cameron launched his governments ‘Big Society’ project to reduce the power of centralised government and to give more power and control back to the people. Even Russian Prime Minister Putin has recently suggested an overhaul of the Russian governmental system through direct consultation with the people…exactly the opposite of what the ‘advisors’ to Bankova Street propose.
I believe that the solution to the current ills of our nation are: the implementation of the Venice Commission recommendations on the Constitution, the re-establishment of the primacy of the law and the authority of the Courts; a return to universal equality under the law and massive public education on television and in the education system in ‘what is a democracy’ and ‘what is your personal role in making it happen.’
Unless we fully understand how a democracy works, how can we possibly build a democratic system that serves all on an equal basis?
The People First Foundation is going to use the power of the internet and the free media to hold national referenda of public opinion on all aspects of life in Ukraine today so that we can fully appreciate what the people of Ukraine understand by a democracy and what they would like Ukrainian democracy to deliver. Once we have this information and fully understand the will of the people we, just as the public servants of former times, will prepare a Ukrainian Peoples Charter that will summarise the democracy that we, the people of Ukraine, want for our children and for our future.
From this we expect to be able to create the foundations for a democratic system of government that will provide the answers to the questions of our national identity and a strategic development plan that serves the interests of all citizens irrespective of their power, position and influence.
It may be that our politicians will turn another deaf ear but I believe that they too are looking for a solution to this impasse as our national chaos and lack of financial performance is now reflecting badly on their credibility as the world grows weary of their failings.
British democracy took over 900 years to evolve, U.S. democracy over 300 years yet Ukraine became a democracy literally overnight. For the past 20 years we have experimented with pseudo-democracy and that experiment has failed.
We as a nation now have a choice. We can either go back to authoritarianism with all the negatives that entails or we can recognise our failings and move forwards to a new era only this time our democracy will be based on the educated, free and democratically expressed will of the Ukrainian people.
Victor Tkachuk is chief executive officer of the Kyiv-based People First Foundation (www.peoplefirst.org.ua). A former Deputy Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine, advisor to three Ukrainian Presidents and former parliament member, Tkachuk can be reached via [email protected].
