Anti-government rally in Ukraine
Published: 22 February, 2009, 04:43
TAGS: Conflict, Ukraine, Protest, Politics, Yushchenko
About a thousand protesters have flocked to the streets of the Ukrainian city of Sevastopol, to rally against the government's handling of the economy.
They called for the government's resignation and new and fair elections.
“President Yushchenko, the government of Tymoshenko and the parliamentary majority consisting of oligarchs and NATO henchmen, who have shown that they are unable to get the country out of the crisis,” read a resolution of the rally participants. “Ukraine needs a total change of power, otherwise it will face famine, ruin and death.”
Many protesters headed to the city from other towns in Crimea to rally against growing unemployment and spiralling living costs.
They were seeking to freeze on bank loans for one year, a free medical service and increasing the minimum wage to the actual minimum cost of living.
The rally included representatives of many political parties, including the pro-Russian Party of Regions, the Progressive Socialist Party and the Socialist Party, the Communist Party and several other political parties and organisations.
The protestors demanded Ukraine’s withdrawal from European financial organisations and insisted the country should ask for Russia's support to overcome the crisis.
They also called on the Ukrainian government to comply with the agreement on the presence of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol. Russians constitute over 50 per cent of the republic’s population.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Crimea received autonomous status within Ukraine, which was limited by the new constitution in 1998.
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Under Yushchnko's proposed constitution Crimea will lose more of it powers and autonomy. The composition of Ysuehnkos senate will concentrate power in an undemocratic Senate with smaller Western Ukrainian regions with less the 600,000 Constituents will the same number of Senators as Eastern Ukrainian regions with 2,5 Million voters. This will tip the balance of power and control towards Western Ukraine. The introduction of First-past-the-post voting system will further distort the balance and democratic value of the vote. Analysis of the 2007 parliamentary vote under Yusehenko's proposed Senatorial model shows that Yushchenko's Party "Our Ukraine" in Zakapartia with 152,886 less then 32% of the vote will elect 3 senators the same number of Senators as in Donetsk, where the Party of Regions has 1,720,0723 votes (11 times more votes then in Zakapartia) And Yushchenko portrays himslef as being Mr Democratic. Whilst the Venice Commission has raised concern at this disparity it has played down the disparity and impact that this proposal has on true democratic values. Yushenkos' proposed constitution will `create more division and civil unrest perpetuating the continual state of crisis if impilimented. With the date of the Presidential election now out of the way Yushchenko, will now shift his focus towards dismissing Ukraine's Parliament and calling fresh parliamentary elections to be held in October. Yushchenko, who is subject to limitations under Ukraine's Constitution (Article 90) has until July 17 and arguably until the end of August to call for fresh Parliamentary elections. If Yushchenko dissolves the Parliament fresh Parliamentary elections must be held within 60 days. Yushchenko will consider early Parliamentary elections as the best tactical means of undermining Yulia Tymochenko's campaign for the Presidency. Yulia Tymochenko will have to fight a campaign on both fronts and if she loses the Parliamentary elections it would be difficult for her to regain the upper hand and support to win the Presidential election.