With 96.98% of the vote counted we have an interesting situation. There is no clear 'winner.' Wait! you say. Didn't the media come out and say that Tymoshenko won? Yes, they did. No, she didn't. She didn't even win the largest fraction of the total counted votes: Yanukovich's Party of Regions does. The interesting twist is that the Socialists, as some had predicted, fell below the required 3% of the vote to have any representation in the parliament. Bye, bye Moroz, you backstabbing PITA. Only five parties made the cut. Let's look at the totals.
That means of the seats in the parliament, 38% will go to Yanukovich, 35% will go to Tymoshenko, 16% will go to Yushchenko, 6% will go to the Communists (Yanukovich allies), and 4 to 5 % will go to Lytvyn's crew. This is if the seats are allocated proportionately. Tymoshenko could if she is able to dance the dance of forming a government with Yushchenko's party to become prime minister again. If she can prevent defections after the fact. Last time, Yushchenko's group had a serious problem of bribes getting paid to them to cross the aisle and join Yanukovich's cronies. We'll see if they can form their government and if they can keep their people loyal.
The question is what is the future for Ukraine? T&Y state they want to get Ukraine into the EU and NATO. Personally, I think that getting Ukraine in the EU is in both Ukraine's and the EU's interest. Even though Edward Hugh raises some questions on whether or not people ought to be counting on Ukraine's population as a source of labour, but if Ukraine is a apart of the EU, what is there would quickly channel into the EU. Furthermore, it would keep Ukraine an independent state and not one that is at Russia's beck and call. It would be good for Ukraine for the opportunities that the EU would bring and the rights and positive regulation. The EU would also have open access to the great Ukrainian granary, industrial plant, and all those Black Sea/Crimean resorts.
Often times people cry out when a larger state makes an overture to a smaller one. Cries of 'imperialism' are quite common. Alas. There seems to be a belief that this is a one way street, that the larger state is the only one benefiting. This is almost never true. We don't live in the age of true colonialism. That died on the bonfire of the great World Wars. Now it is more about mutual benefit and in this case, the EU-Ukraine marriage, I'd say both would benefit greatly.
Party of Regions 34.14% of total vote
Block of Yulia Tymoshenko 30.86% of total vote
Our Ukraine- People's Self Defense 14.29% of total vote
Communist Party of Ukraine 5.36% of total vote
Block of Lytvyn 3.95% of total vote
That means of the seats in the parliament, 38% will go to Yanukovich, 35% will go to Tymoshenko, 16% will go to Yushchenko, 6% will go to the Communists (Yanukovich allies), and 4 to 5 % will go to Lytvyn's crew. This is if the seats are allocated proportionately. Tymoshenko could if she is able to dance the dance of forming a government with Yushchenko's party to become prime minister again. If she can prevent defections after the fact. Last time, Yushchenko's group had a serious problem of bribes getting paid to them to cross the aisle and join Yanukovich's cronies. We'll see if they can form their government and if they can keep their people loyal.
The question is what is the future for Ukraine? T&Y state they want to get Ukraine into the EU and NATO. Personally, I think that getting Ukraine in the EU is in both Ukraine's and the EU's interest. Even though Edward Hugh raises some questions on whether or not people ought to be counting on Ukraine's population as a source of labour, but if Ukraine is a apart of the EU, what is there would quickly channel into the EU. Furthermore, it would keep Ukraine an independent state and not one that is at Russia's beck and call. It would be good for Ukraine for the opportunities that the EU would bring and the rights and positive regulation. The EU would also have open access to the great Ukrainian granary, industrial plant, and all those Black Sea/Crimean resorts.
Often times people cry out when a larger state makes an overture to a smaller one. Cries of 'imperialism' are quite common. Alas. There seems to be a belief that this is a one way street, that the larger state is the only one benefiting. This is almost never true. We don't live in the age of true colonialism. That died on the bonfire of the great World Wars. Now it is more about mutual benefit and in this case, the EU-Ukraine marriage, I'd say both would benefit greatly.
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