Sunday, February 19, 2012

Yanukovych preparing several scenarios in lead-up to Autumn VR elections?

During last Friday's 'ShusterLive' show, the transfer of former deputy PM Andriy Klyuyev to the chair of the National Security and Defence Council head by presidential decree was discussed. For over 10 years now Klyuyev has probably been Party of Regions' smartest political manager and organiser.

Chief-editor of the LB.ua site, Sonya Koshkina expressed the view that in his new position Klyuyev will have greater opportunity to successfully manage Party of Regions' campaign for the parliamentary election scheduled to take place next Autumn, and would also be ideally placed to manage the country's security forces in order to produce the 'required election result'. [PoR's ratings are currently in the low to mid teens... and falling.]

But, in her opinion, there is a possibility parliamentary elections could be cancelled or be postponed indefinitely. The NSDC, in close collaboration with the President, could even declare a state of emergency in the country.

Koshkina pointed out that in Europe opinion is hardening that if Yulia Tymoshenko is not free to take part in the elections then they will not be considered valid in any case...so why bother?

[Note: Messing about with election dates is not new:

On February 16, 2010 the Verkhovna Rada cancelled all Ukrainian local election dates original set for May 30, 2010. A new date was not set but Members of Parliament expected new local elections in the spring of 2011. On April 2, 2010 the Verkhovna Rada set early local elections in a number of cities, towns and villages for June 20, 2010. According to opposition lawmaker Mykola Katerynchuk (Our Ukraine–People's Self-Defense Bloc faction) the voting results proved that the Party of Regions intends to extend its influence over local government bodies, as the faction did not support elections in any of those regions where they already had a majority.

Late April 2010 President Viktor Yanukovych expected local elections in Ukraine to take place in 2011. Late May 2010 Yanukovych stated that local elections should be held next autumn. Yanukovych also called for these elections to be based on the majority representation system and stressed the need to adopt the relevant laws.

On July 1, 2010 the Verkhovna Rada scheduled the election for Sunday, October 31, 2010. On July 11 lawmakers approved the bill on the procedure for holding the elections. Source

In April 2007, in an attempt to resolve a political crisis in Ukraine, President Yushchenko issued a constitutionally highly dubious decree, and dissolved Ukraine's parliament. Fresh elections took place at the end of September that year. Source]

The latest edition of 'Tyzhden' weekly runs an article entitled: 'Cadres decide everything?' "The new appointments heading the Security Service of Ukraine [SBU] and Ministry of Defence are evidence the president does not trust the 'endless cadre of reserves' that Party of Regions traditionally boast of." The article predicts other figures, distant from PoR but 'recommended by authoritative members close to president', may soon be appointed to other strategically important positions. In other words, 'Lidder' as he is called in PoR correspondence, is distancing himself from his own party and building his own power 'vertikal'..there as rumblings of internal discontent already amongst senior party paymasters.

'Tyzhden'also runs another article entitled 'They are preparing to give [their opponents] one in the face' which describes how the authorities intend to use 'adminresurs' manipulations and falsifications in the run-up to the 2012 parliamentary elections. Their intention to do this was clearly signalled by Roman Zabzaliuk's bribery recordings [ see previous F.N. blog]

Unfortunately these two articles can only be read on the net at the links above. 'Tyzhden' has been withdrawn from sale for reasons, as yet, not explained...

p.s. The prosecutor-general says his office is not compentent to investigate alleged bribery of deputies in the V.R. In other words, carry on as normal...

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