It’s no surprise that its stitched seams are already being tested.
Emboldened by her strong performances in the past two elections, Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko determinedly redeemed her pledge to return lost bank deposits and asserted her controversial position that key assets suspiciously privatized in the past should return to the state and be resold at higher prices.
Rather than direct calls to re-possess private property, Tymoshenko repeatedly referred to the need for domestic court decisions to be upheld. Yet any Ukrainian businessman knows that such rulings hold as much weight as a box of feathers, at least until the necessary reforms are introduced, such as salary hikes.
Yushchenko doesn’t want Tymoshenko taking properties away from her enemies and giving them to her allies. He assigned much blame of the first Orange coalition’s collapse on Tymoshenko’s attempt to steer the Nikopol Ferroalloy Plant into the influence of billionaire Igor Kolomoisky.
Meanwhile, Tymoshenko’s lost bank deposit drive was a blatant maneuver to boost her popularity ahead of presidential elections.
In his concerned response, the president reportedly rallied the wagons of his Our Ukraine political force this week. Reports alleged he asked his allies within the Tymoshenko-led government to re-affirm the party platform, seemingly to solidify their allegiance.
With that, the possibility of a Yushchenko-Tymoshenko stand-off re-emerged, which could again threaten Ukraine’s stability and ability to pass badly needed reforms. However time is running out for Yushchenko. If he has any chance of getting re-elected or claiming major achievements, he needs to stick with Tymoshenko as premier this year. Ousting her would only bring the Viktor Yanukovych team back again, which would again stall the NATO Membership Action Plan and World Trade Organization membership, both critical to Yushchenko’s presidency.
Like any good politician, Tymoshenko will lay claim to the government’s achievements. Yushchenko should keep cool, tolerate Tymoshenko’s self-promotion and disagreeable initiatives, and point out shortfalls when necessary while quietly steering the coalition on the track to achieve Ukraine’s strategic priorities. Between her populist measures and his principled aims of Western integration, they can gain more by complementing each other than mutual self-destruction.
Though NATO membership is not supported by most Ukrainians and the WTO membership is viewed with skepticism, integration into both organizations are critical for Ukraine’s future economic and political well-being.
As for a political strategy in preparation for his presidential campaign, Yushchenko should continue riding last year’s populist bandwagon, promising to continue raising salaries, pensions and overall living standards. Adopting parts of Tymoshenko’s game plan will ensure that Yushchenko, Tymoshenko and Ukraine have a fighting chance in coming years.
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