Will Democracy Prevail in Ukraine?

Following the recent parliamentary election, Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko has called for a broad coalition government. Is this what the country really needs?

The parliamentary election is over and the “Orange” forces have won a slim majority in the Verkhovna Rada, but will Ukraine really move closer to democracy?

After the election, President Viktor Yushchenko called for a unity government between his Our Ukraine People’s Self Defense Bloc, the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc (BYuT), and the pro-Russian Party of Regions. He has been maligned in the press for this decision, as people wonder why he doesn’t just form a majority government with BYuT and leave the Party of Regions as the opposition, out in the cold.

Doesn’t Yushchenko have the right idea by trying to include Party of Regions (PoR) in the government (for cabinet positions, outside of parliament)? After all, PoR received 34% of votes in the election, the largest amount for any one political party or bloc.

On the surface, I think Yushchenko’s plan has some merit. He is trying to provide for representation in the government by a party that is supported by one-third of the country’s population. However, democracies really don’t work that way.

In the real world, democracy occurs during an election when people vote for their governmental representatives. After the election, the majority party rules, and passes legislation based on their own beliefs. The minority may have a say, but the majority makes the rules.

I am not sure what Yushchenko is thinking, but providing cabinet positions to the Party of Regions will probably result in more governmental deadlocks - the same as before. Now is the time for Yushchenko to get some cajones, form a government with BYuT, and get the country moving forward. If the people don’t like what happens during the remainder of his term in office, we will find out in the next presidential election.

What do you think?