Another 'Orange Revolution' unlikely
0 
Ukraine's opposition leader Viktor Yanukovych won a narrow victory in the presidential run-off election Sunday, according to official results. Prime Minister and Orange Revolution co-leader Yulia Tymoshenko said she would stage another Orange Revolution, claiming the election was widely rigged. [Editor's note: Tymoshenko has backed away from an early threat to call people out onto the streets.]
The presidential election was similar to the one held five years ago. Both elections entered the run-off stage with an Orange leader competing with Yanukovych, and both proved to be close races. Voting patterns have not changed, and the rivalry between pro-Russian and pro-Western forces is still very tense. Tymoshenko also has strong financial support and political capability, giving her the power to launch widespread protests.
But since the Orange Revolution, ordinary Ukrainians have got few from the revolution. Before the Orange Revolution Ukraine's GDP growth once reached 12 percent. But since 2005, Ukraine's economy gradually plunged into a deep crisis. In the first 11 months in 2009, the inflation rate ran as high as 13.6 percent.
The Orange Revolution did not stabilize Ukrainian political situation, either. In the past five years, Ukraine had two parliamentary elections. The political squabbling has hindered Ukraine's efforts to join the EU. Gas rows with Russia and other disputes constantly erupt.
Orange Revolution politicians have done little to advance much-needed political and economic reforms while doing much to disillusion citizens. International election observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, EU and NATO all endorsed the elections as relatively clean and fair. Even if another Orange Revolution really happened, it would not last long without the support of the West.
Go to Forum >>0 Comments