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#22 - JRL 8452 - JRL Home
POLITICAL REFORM IN UKRAINE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN ELECTIONS

MOSCOW, November 15 (RIA Novosti analyst Arseny Oganesyan) - Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma believes that the constitutional reform will be implemented before the second round of the elections. The reform should redistribute the presidential authorities in favor of the government and parliament. After the end of his presidential term, Leonid Kuchma is likely to become Prime Minister.

If the reform is a success, the second round of the elections will develop after the "All or nothing" scenario, Mr. Kuchma said.

According to Vyacheslav Nikonov, President of the Politics foundation, Mr. Kuchma's desire to implement the reform reflects the concern of the Ukrainian top brass, in particular, the President, about the excessive presidential authorities in the polarized country.

Mr. Nikonov believes that the reform will be a success if Moroz-led socialists support this initiative. However, Mr. Moroz has allied with Yushchenko, who comes out against the political reform at the moment. It means that the adoption of this reform between the two rounds becomes problematic.

Meanwhile, if the reform is a failure, the tensions in the country will be escalating, Leonid Kuchma believes. "No matter who wins the elections, it is dangerous to give the existing presidential resources to one person under the current historic circumstances," the President stated.

These words prove Kuchma's mistrust in his preferred candidate Viktor Yanukovich.

The implementation of this reform means lower status of the election victory for Mr. Yanukovich and a political fiasco for his rival Viktor Yushchenko.