Editorials & Other Articles

Purveyor

(29,876 posts) Thu Oct 22, 2015, 07:51 PM Oct 2015

Ukraine's New Era Falls Short, Feeding Chorus of Discontent

Last edited Thu Oct 22, 2015, 10:15 PM - Edit history (1)

* Backing for president plummets before local elections
* Businesses, voters say country heading in wrong direction

By Daryna Krasnolutska
October 22, 2015 — 7:01 PM EDT

It wasn’t supposed to be like this.

Nearly two years after Ukrainian protesters drove out their pro-Russian leader, progress toward building a European-style state has disappointed and the post-Soviet scourge of corruption endures. Allies of the deposed Viktor Yanukovych are bidding to make a comeback.

For French businessman Jean-Noel Reynaud, the situation has led to what he calls an illegal takeover at one of his vodka plants.

“Ukraine isn’t fulfilling its commitments to clean up the country," Reynaud, chief executive officer of Paris-listed Marie Brizard Wine & Spirits, said in a phone interview. “This isn’t acceptable in a nation that’s aspiring to adopt European Union values. This is a black spot on its reputation.”

--clip

Unpopular Government

The lack of momentum in revamping Ukraine has shattered support for the ruling coalition, led by President Petro Poroshenko’s party, according to a September poll by the International Republican Institute. Controlling a third of seats in parliament at present, the Solidarity Party would get 13 percent in elections for the legislature, the survey showed. The party of his prime minister, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, ranked in April by one newspaper as Ukraine’s least reform-minded politician, isn’t even contesting the local ballot.

MORE..

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-10-22/ukraine-s-new-era-falls-short-feeding-chorus-of-discontent

6 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Ukraine's New Era Falls Short, Feeding Chorus of Discontent (Original Post) Purveyor Oct 2015 OP

Russia did her work well. Nitram Oct 2015 #1

Message auto-removed Name removed Oct 2015 #2

No, the problems are with a war in the east fomented and supplied by Russia. Nitram Oct 2015 #4

Message auto-removed Name removed Oct 2015 #6

But that's not a very meaningful statement. Igel Oct 2015 #5

Message auto-removed Name removed Oct 2015 #3

Nitram

(22,765 posts)

1. Russia did her work well.

Reply to Purveyor (Original post)

Fri Oct 23, 2015, 09:26 AM

Oct 2015

Sowing confusion and violence, subverting Ukraine's economy and civil society. I hope Ukraine can survive this dark hour.

Response to Nitram (Reply #1)

Name removed Message auto-removed

Nitram

(22,765 posts)

4. No, the problems are with a war in the east fomented and supplied by Russia.

Reply to Name removed (Reply #2)

Fri Oct 23, 2015, 06:54 PM

Oct 2015

Even shot down a civilian airliner.

Response to Nitram (Reply #4)

Name removed Message auto-removed

Igel

(35,274 posts)

5. But that's not a very meaningful statement.

Reply to Name removed (Reply #2)

Fri Oct 23, 2015, 08:03 PM

Oct 2015

The current government's been under great stress and duress as it's tried to do some things. Could it have done more given a different situation? Perhaps, but there's no way of knowing apart from introspection and simply going with one's assumptions.

Part of the disagreement is also disillusion with the promise of "victory" and the acceptance of what amounts to a frozen conflict in which Russia through proxy will get a significant amount of say.

Part of the disagreement is, as usual, economic and impatience: The changes that might happen weren't fast enough--they wouldn't have been--and the economy's a basket case. Massive military spending and economic disruption does that.

Part is fear: When you have not infrequent bombings, finds of weapons caches, and the occasional threat or fear of take-over or another separatist movement, it's hard to feel confident enough to actually support anybody who doesn't make you feel safe.

The reports of how bad it is "there" don't matter so much as how is "here."

Response to Purveyor (Original post)

Name removed Message auto-removed

Reply to this discussion