Ukraine Tensions Eased With Electoral Reform

The bitter political crisis that has gripped this nation for more than two weeks eased dramatically today with passage by parliament of a compromise package of laws strengthening safeguards against electoral fraud while weakening presidential powers.

The reforms appeared to leave pro-Western opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko well-positioned in his bid for the presidency in a Dec. 26 rematch against Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich, who has been backed by Moscow. Yanukovich came out narrowly on top, by official count, in November balloting that the Supreme Court ruled invalid due to fraud.

The constitutional reforms approved today means, however, that whoever wins the revote will exercise significantly less power than that enjoyed by outgoing president Leonid D. Kuchma.

“Let us congratulate each other,” centrist parliamentary speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn said after parliament overwhelming approved the package on a 402-21 vote with 19 abstentions. “The act which has just taken place is an act of consolidation, reconciliation, and an act that proves Ukraine is one and indivisible.”

Virtually the entire chamber stood and applauded, with both Kuchma and Yushchenko among those who smiled as they clapped. Lytvyn and Kuchma immediately signed the bills into law, then held up the documents to display the signatures.

“Today was the day for critical compromise,” Yushchenko told reporters. “Tomorrow could have been too late.” Yushchenko was scheduled to address another mass rally in central Kiev’s Independence Square today.

Kuchma pleaded before the parliamentary vote for a compromise acceptable to all.

“Throughout its modern history, Ukraine lived through crisis situations more than once,” he said. “But there was always enough political will and reason to find the only right solution…. Recently, we have many times heard the expression that there should be no winners or losers, that Ukraine has to win. I believe it has to be added that humiliation should be ruled out.”

Yanukovich, campaigining in his key support base of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine, blasted the day’s decisions.

“I could not do anything to stop the mob rule or the sweeping orange and brown plague that had joined forces with the authorities,” Yanukovich said, making reference to the Yushchenko’s campaign color of orange, and charges by his own camp that neo-fascist forces, symbolized by the color brown, also support the opposition leader.

Yanukovich added, “I want everybody in Ukraine to know that lawlessness has taken over the country.”

He was particularly critical of another parliamentary vote today that created a new Central Election Commission without any members nominated by his party, although it did include nominees from other pro-government factions.

“The country is witnessing a slow coup today,” Yanukovich said. “In fact, a presidential candidate who received a majority of votes in the second round has been left without his representatives at the CEC.”