Ukraine Elections Lauded as Fair and Free
31 March 2006

The European Union and the United States both praised Ukraine’s elections for being relatively free and fair. The Washington Post reports that White House press secretary Scott McClellan described the successful elections in Ukraine as standing “in stark contrast to what we saw in Belarus.”  Additionally, he stated, “The Ukrainian people have shown the world that they are committed to important ideals of economic freedom and democratic progress and open trade. That lays the groundwork for a promising future.”

The EU was similarly optimistic.  The Presidency of the EU remarked, “The Mission [OSCE] concluded that the elections were free and fair, consolidating the democratic breakthrough in Ukraine…The Ukrainian people have assumed ownership of their democracy. This is a milestone in the democratic election process…”  The Presidency stated that the formation of a new government offered opportunity to further reforms and help Ukraine join the WTO.

A new government is currently being negotiated, with President Yushchenko expected to form a coalition with either Tymoshenko or Yanukovych.  One pundit, Gwynne Dyer, argues that whatever the form of the new government, Ukraine has not rejected democracy or the Orange Revolution.  She writes, “Corruption will continue to be a problem and the relationship with Russia will always be troubled and complex, but the whole country has moved on.  Democracy makes strange bedfellows…”