OSCE Posts Preliminary Findings
Good News
The OSCE has posted up its preliminary findings on the election.
Their main conclusion:
The 26 March parliamentary elections were conducted basically in line with OSCE Commitments, Council of Europe commitments and other international standards for democratic elections. Overall, fundamental civil and political rights, such as freedom of expression and assembly, were respected. An inclusive candidate registration and a vibrant media environment provided for genuine competition and equal conditions. This enabled voters to make informed choices between distinct alternatives and to freelyand fairly express their will.
Though they go on to mention a number of shortcomings in with the positive signs: delayed opening time at some polling stations, no Constitutional Court now in office, poorly defined campaign finance legislation, many polling stations with too many registered voters - contributing to long lines, authorities underestimated the scale of their task.
On the plus side again, they found that inaccuracies in the voting lists submitted t othem were isolated. This is good news considering the worrying translation of some Russian last names into Ukrainian which might have disenfranchised many Eastern Ukrainians if it were widespread.
Dan McMinn
in 17) Eastern Ukraine, 31) Mar 2006 Parl. Election
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Reader Comments (16)
What do you make of Lytvyn's poor performance? If things continue he's going to be out of a job - something that can in my mind only be a good thing. This opportunist has been involved in some very questionable activities down the years, Ukraine will be better off without him. But will he be better off without his Parliamentary immunity?
"This could be regarded as somebody's intentional effort to benefit this or that political force."
Yanukovych:
"The Party of Regions, the presidium of its political council, has made its decision -- we will not hold any negotiations with anybody until the final vote count. Official talks will begin after we have received the official results, after the breakdown of votes in parliament becomes clear."
Please substantiate on Litvin. Many think he's among the more sincere of the politicos.
How is Litvin worse than Tymoshenko, Yushchenko, Kuchma, Kravchuk, Vitrenko and Yanukovich?
I'd really likely to know because as is, I see no reason to view Litvin as being worse than the mentioned others.
I certainly don't think Lytvyn is any worse than Kuchma or Yanukovich. What do you think about the Cassette Scandal Michael?
The good news is that both sides - east and west - will have strong representation and no ground for complaint that they can't be heard.
The bad news is --- this deep division between east and west which the results seem to confirm.
I wonder: what is it that makes one "blue" by crossing into a neighboring oblast? I admit my bias: voting orange seems easy to me, although I'm quite willing to acknowledge that there must be some rational reason that half the country on one end feels differently. But what is it,exactly? Is it purely and simply the language issue? (All the experts I read say that's a red herring only thrown about by politicians ... is that true?)
Can Ukraine successfully function with such a deep divide? For all the talk about "betraying the revolution," those who called for a Yu-Ya coalition had something in this: an appeal for national unity rather than disunity. Perhaps I speak prematurely - maybe some grand coalition is at hand. Who knows?
But back to my earlier point, if this can be said to be Ukraine's first "normal" election, without the "administrative resource," then it is truly a historic occasion. Hopefully there is no turning back. I'm not saying west must rule and that no eastern leader can arise: I'm saying that whatever happens, let it be by fair and democratic processes.
http://abdymok.net/from-the-beer-tent-king
I'd say that the Orange Coalition must do a good job of making reforms that Eastern Ukrainians can appreciate and woo them as a region so that their solidarity in support of PR will be weakened.
dlw
The voting difficulty for Ukrainian citizens in Trans-Dniester and the complications of the Russian to Ukrainian sur name changes could only help the Orange side. I heard that one precinct had a 112% turnout.
BTW The last Ukrainian presidential election had fraud from the Orange side.
Socialists claim fraud in Crimea, Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, Luhansk, Lviv and Donetsk.
But, Yaroslav Davydovich, the head of the Central Election Committee, says there are no grounds for a recount and advises the parties to go to court if they think they have a case.
Davydovish said the delay in counting votes came about because many eastern regions did not (were not able to? - not sure) send protocols by email to CEC in a timely manner.
Regions: 8,144,485 32.12%
BYuT: 5,648,345 22.27%
Our Uk.: 3,536,459 13.94%
Social.: 1,439,624 5.67%
Comm.: 928,501 3.66%
Only these will get seats (my estimate, assuming the process is straightforward):
Regions: 186
BYuT: 129
Our Uk.: 81
Social.: 33
Comm: 21
226 needed for a majorty. I won't add anything together since I no don't pretend to have a clue as to who will ally with whom.
These others came fairly close:
Vitrenko: 743,125 2.93%
Lytvyn: 618,060 2.43%
K & P: 475,636 1.87%
Viche: 443,559 1.74%
PORA: 372,931 1.47%
And then in 45th place, a party that perhaps needs to reconsider its prospects:
"Ahead Ukraine": 6,970 0.02%
(from www.ostro.org)
http://www.ostro.org/shownews_tema.php?id=752&lang=en
"Viktor Yuschenko appreciates the burning desire of Ms. Tymoshenko."
"I heard that one precinct had a 112% turnout."
Got a source?
Keep in mind that almost 20% of the voting population did not vote for Regions, BYuT, Our Uk., Social., or Comm. That's alot of votes going up for grabs for the next elections. And what does it mean for the current situation - 20% not represented by any political party.