Hoy son las elecciones en Ucrania

Hoy son las elecciones en Ucrania

Supongo que todos lo saben y están pendientes de lo que ocurra en este país tan importante para nosotros en Europa... occidental.

Les recomiendo leer el excelente blog de Nicholas, que es partidario de la Tymoschenko.

En su artículo de hoy a las 8.30 AM, Ukraine Votes In Tense Contest To End Turmoil, Nicholas explica (el artículo es copiado, sí; pero no dudo que él hace suyas las palabras):

"Ukrainians voted Sunday in a snap parliamentary election meant to end months of political chaos, with pro-Western forces hoping to push their Russian-backed rival from power.

"Polling stations across the former Soviet republic of 47 million people, which is sandwiched between Russia and the European Union, opened at 7:00 am (0400 GMT) and were due to close at 10:00 pm (1900 GMT).

"On the eve of the election, Western-leaning President Viktor Yushchenko appealed for voters to end 'chaos' and back reforms promised during the 2004 pro-democracy 'Orange Revolution.'

"The election to the single-chamber parliament, the Rada, was called to resolve a power struggle between Yushchenko and his prime minister, Viktor Yanukovych, who is closer to Ukraine's former ruler Moscow.

"None of the leading three parties was expected to win an outright majority, meaning coalition talks were inevitable.

"Yushchenko's Our Ukraine-People's Self Defence party is teaming up with the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc, headed by glamorous former prime minister Tymoshenko, another key leader in the 'Orange Revolution.'

"They hope to win enough combined votes to form a new government, with Tymoshenko replacing Yanukovych as premier."

Oh, ojalá que se entiendan esta vez, porque ya se pelearon a muerte después de la Revolución naranja.

"However, polls predict Yanukovych's Regions Party will come a close second to the combined 'Orange' parties. The prime minister may still be able to form a majority coalition if any of the 17 smaller parties manage to win seats.

"Washington, the European Union and an increasingly assertive Kremlin are watching closely for political shifts in the former Soviet republic, which has expressed interest in joining both the European Union and NATO."

Sí, ¡Ucrania debería ingresar a la Unión Europea!

"The country straddles key Russian gas export routes to energy-hungry EU clients.

"It is also a testing ground for Western-style economic and political reforms in the former Soviet Union, where many countries are now headed by authoritarian governments."

Me quedo con las palabras del preseidente Yuschenko ayer sábado:

"the choice, in my view, is very simple: either you vote for change in your life, or for the past and those who divide us."

"Moscow has accused Western governments of fomenting revolutions in its backyard, but Washington and other Western capitals say they are helping post-Soviet societies develop democracy".

Y, por favor, miren el blog de Neeca (excelente periodista ucraniana), con fotos y películas de la campaña Neeka's Backlog