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Feb 27, 2014 02:00 am | Ariel Cohen
Ukrainians
have succeeded in their struggle against a corrupt, incompetent
president. For now. But for the revolution to be a success, Kyiv’s new
leaders must make a strong effort to reform the economy, revitalize
government institutions and protect the country’s sovereignty—not
squabble over power and portfolios.The Rada, Ukraine’s parliament, removed Viktor Yanukovych from power on February 22. That same day, it granted amnesty to all political prisoners, including former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko. Best of all, it voted to return to the constitution of 2004, which limits presidential powers, and to hold early presidential elections on May 25.
So far, so good.
Those changes followed three months of rowdy demonstrations against Yanukovych. The protests grew even bloodier last week when Yanukovych's riot police and interior troops last week savagely attacked the demonstrators in fatal shootings. The bloodshed only strengthened support for the opposition, however, and over the weekend they finally gained control of the capital.
But what they now control is a near-bankrupt country with history of stratospheric corruption and bureaucratic incompetence, and a polity which is still a work in progress. Ukraine became a failing state under Yanukovych. And the political turmoil has further weakened an already-struggling economy. The new government and its political supporters must act quickly to build a new country.
At the top of its urgent to-do list:
· successfully conduct early presidential elections;
· formulate a strategy for comprehensive reforms, and
read morehttp://nationalinterest.org/commentary/ukraine-next-steps-9962
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