You're reading: Foreign Policy: How a fictional president is helping Ukrainians rethink their absurd politics

Under growing pressure from the International Monetary Fund, Ukrainian lawmakers pass an unpopular bill that will raise taxes on alcohol. Angry protesters surround government buildings in Kyiv, vowing to stay until the law is repealed. But on the next day, the president discovers the protests have miraculously cleared, scared away by reports – concocted by the prime minister and cabinet – of an imminent meteorite strike. “How did you even come up with the idea of a meteorite?!” the president fumes.

“I suggested an epidemic,” says one minister in a moment of self-preservation. “I suggested bringing up the dual-language question,” says another, referring to the divisive issue of whether Russian should become a second state language. “We don’t need to go to extremes,” says the prime minister glibly, explaining why a natural disaster was best. Finally, the president shuts down the discussion (“Cancel the meteorite, understand? There is no meteorite and never was!”) and vows to address the crisis at hand, much to the shock and dismay of his cabinet.

Read the full story here.