Cogito Ergo Non Serviam

Ukraine's Coalition Government Collapses

The governing coalition of Ukraine has collapsed as the Udar and Svoboda parties have announced their withdrawal. While the constitution allows 30 days for a new majority coalition in the Rada [parliament] to be formed, analysts believe that is unlikely and that new elections will have to be held, most likely in October. Until then, the government of Arseniy Yatsenyuk will continue as a care-taker regime. With the continued fighting in the eastern part of the country, this is ill-timed at best.

The reason the two parties are withholding their support is an unwillingness to back certain amendments to the state budget proposed by the Prime Minister. An English-language report from Ukrinform reveals "the Svoboda faction is not satisfied with the abolishment [sic] of benefits for agricultural producers and a two months' reduction of payments for state servants." The same report notes, "The UDAR also does not support reduction of funding for budget workers," which includes doctors and teachers. These cuts would allow these people to be laid off, the party fears.

The need for elections is clearly present. There are still members of the Rada who backed the ousted President Viktor Yanukovych, and they have been obstructionist at best. New elections will allow for a clean sweep of the Rada. However, this should have been done in conjunction with the presidential elections that were held a few weeks ago.

Meanwhile, a court case has begun that could result in the Communist Party being banned. The case alleges that the communists have provided money and weapons along with less tangible support to the pro-Moscow insurrectionists in the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. Moreover, the Speaker of the Rada announced that the communists would no longer be recognized as a formal faction in the legislature. Under a law passed Tuesday, he has the power to do this on the grounds that there are not enough members to form a formal faction. The communists will lose administration expenses and other perks.

The timing of the political crisis could not be worse. After the Russian-backed insurrectionists downed a Malaysian jet killing more than 300, world opinion is moving heavily in Kyiv's favor. The fact that Kyiv doesn't seem to be able to agree on a budget will put a stop to any ideas that genuine help (as opposed to moral support) is on the way. Why send money and weapons to a government that doesn't seem to know how to pay its farmers, doctors and teachers?

What the Kyiv government doesn't need right now is an image abroad of confusion or discord. The more the regime there seems to be rearranging the deck furniture on the Titanic, the more the insurrectionists will wage war and the less likely any aid to counteract their moves will be.

Regrettably, the die has been cast, and for the next 30 days, the government will go through the motions of finding a new majority. When that fails, and surely it will, August will end with the opening of a political campaign that will last through October. After the ballots are counted, the more successful factions will sit down and negotiate an agreement by which they shall govern. Sometime in November, genuine democratic government will show up.

That is an awfully long time to give the insurrectionists to do damage to the nation. And worst of all, there seems to be no way to change the situation.

© Copyright 2014 by The Kensington Review, Jeff Myhre, PhD, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent. Produced using Ubuntu Linux.



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