Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
New York Times
September 4, 2008
Pg. 16
By Clifford J. Levy
MOSCOW — The Western-leaning governing coalition in Ukraine, which took power during the Orange Revolution in 2004 but has endured repeated tumult ever since, appeared once again near collapse on Wednesday.
The president of Ukraine, Viktor A. Yushchenko, asserted that he was the victim of a “political and constitutional coup” carried out by his ally, Prime Minister Yulia V. Tymoshenko, and threatened to call for early parliamentary elections. She blamed him, saying he was seeking ways to rebuild his flagging popular support.
The instability erupted on the eve of a visit to Ukraine by Vice President Dick Cheney, who arrived in the region to show his support for American allies in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Georgia last month.
Mr. Yushchenko criticized Ms. Tymoshenko after her party joined forces with the leading opposition bloc, the Party of Regions, in Parliament to approve legislation that would curtail the president’s powers.
The Party of Regions, led by a former prime minister, Viktor F. Yanukovich, has warm relations with Russia. Mr. Yushchenko does not, and under his leadership Ukraine condemned the Kremlin over the fighting in Georgia.
Mr. Cheney is to arrive in Tbilisi, the Georgian capital, on Thursday, before heading to Ukraine to meet with Mr. Yushchenko. Both countries have drawn the ire of Russia, their neighbor, because of their close ties to the West and desire to join NATO.
While relations with Russia and the West were in the background, much of the wrangling in Kiev, the Ukrainian capital, on Wednesday stemmed from efforts by the three major political leaders to position themselves for presidential elections in January 2010.
Mr. Yushchenko, whose party had been allied with Ms. Tymoshenko’s in Parliament, said his party would withdraw from the governing coalition, adding that a new one had to be formed. He seemed to be daring Ms. Tymoshenko to formally join with the pro-Moscow Party of Regions, a move that might upset her supporters.
In a televised statement, Mr. Yushchenko denounced Ms. Tymoshenko’s decision to have her party vote with the Party of Regions on the measure curbing presidential powers.
“There is only one reason for this, in my opinion: the fight for power,” he said. “Deaf to your problems and needs. A cynical and cruel fight for power.”
Ms. Tymoshenko said that she had no intention of breaking the governing coalition and that she would resist new elections.
“We believe that it is simply hysterics and irresponsible steps, that the democratic coalition must live and work,” she said. “And I think that everyone who wants to serve Ukraine understands this.”
Ms. Tymoshenko became prime minister after the Orange Revolution, which was touched off after Mr. Yushchenko lost a presidential election that was deemed to have been stolen by supporters of his opponent, Mr. Yanukovich, who was backed by the Kremlin.
Ms. Tymoshenko became a symbol of the Orange Revolution and one of the best-known politicians in Eastern Europe. But after she feuded with Mr. Yushchenko, he dismissed her.
Mr. Yanukovich later became prime minister, and then Ms. Tymoshenko made a comeback after performing well in new parliamentary elections.
September 4, 2008
Pg. 16
By Clifford J. Levy
MOSCOW — The Western-leaning governing coalition in Ukraine, which took power during the Orange Revolution in 2004 but has endured repeated tumult ever since, appeared once again near collapse on Wednesday.
The president of Ukraine, Viktor A. Yushchenko, asserted that he was the victim of a “political and constitutional coup” carried out by his ally, Prime Minister Yulia V. Tymoshenko, and threatened to call for early parliamentary elections. She blamed him, saying he was seeking ways to rebuild his flagging popular support.
The instability erupted on the eve of a visit to Ukraine by Vice President Dick Cheney, who arrived in the region to show his support for American allies in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Georgia last month.
Mr. Yushchenko criticized Ms. Tymoshenko after her party joined forces with the leading opposition bloc, the Party of Regions, in Parliament to approve legislation that would curtail the president’s powers.
The Party of Regions, led by a former prime minister, Viktor F. Yanukovich, has warm relations with Russia. Mr. Yushchenko does not, and under his leadership Ukraine condemned the Kremlin over the fighting in Georgia.
Mr. Cheney is to arrive in Tbilisi, the Georgian capital, on Thursday, before heading to Ukraine to meet with Mr. Yushchenko. Both countries have drawn the ire of Russia, their neighbor, because of their close ties to the West and desire to join NATO.
While relations with Russia and the West were in the background, much of the wrangling in Kiev, the Ukrainian capital, on Wednesday stemmed from efforts by the three major political leaders to position themselves for presidential elections in January 2010.
Mr. Yushchenko, whose party had been allied with Ms. Tymoshenko’s in Parliament, said his party would withdraw from the governing coalition, adding that a new one had to be formed. He seemed to be daring Ms. Tymoshenko to formally join with the pro-Moscow Party of Regions, a move that might upset her supporters.
In a televised statement, Mr. Yushchenko denounced Ms. Tymoshenko’s decision to have her party vote with the Party of Regions on the measure curbing presidential powers.
“There is only one reason for this, in my opinion: the fight for power,” he said. “Deaf to your problems and needs. A cynical and cruel fight for power.”
Ms. Tymoshenko said that she had no intention of breaking the governing coalition and that she would resist new elections.
“We believe that it is simply hysterics and irresponsible steps, that the democratic coalition must live and work,” she said. “And I think that everyone who wants to serve Ukraine understands this.”
Ms. Tymoshenko became prime minister after the Orange Revolution, which was touched off after Mr. Yushchenko lost a presidential election that was deemed to have been stolen by supporters of his opponent, Mr. Yanukovich, who was backed by the Kremlin.
Ms. Tymoshenko became a symbol of the Orange Revolution and one of the best-known politicians in Eastern Europe. But after she feuded with Mr. Yushchenko, he dismissed her.
Mr. Yanukovich later became prime minister, and then Ms. Tymoshenko made a comeback after performing well in new parliamentary elections.
