Yulia Tymoshenko Models New Programme Around ‘people First' Principles

By Author: Viktor Tkachuk
Total Articles: 17
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Mrs Tymoshenko indicated in her presentation that her inspiration was the website of the British Conservative party and has even included a link. One of the principle architects of current Conservative policy is the UK think tank ‘ResPublica', a partner organisation of the People First Foundation.

Chief Executive of the People First Foundation Viktor Tkachuk said: We are delighted that Mrs Tymoshenko has taken our materials so literally. Listening to her speech was like reading our brochure and issues of our weekly magazine Democracy Watch. This is very much a step in the right direction and exactly the reaction what we had hoped for when we launched People First. There are a number of issues in her presentation that we might question but in general this is a good sign. Let us hope that the people of Ukraine see this as an opportunity to bring about change and that BYuT are not simply jumping on the ‘democracy bandwagon' as a PR gimmick in advance of the local elections.

The aim of the Foundation is to advance democracy in Ukraine. People First is ready to support any political initiative so ...
... long as the intention is to follow the internationally accepted rules of good democratic practice.

At present it is very difficult to see Ukraine as a fully functioning democracy as the people are no longer represented in either local or national assemblies and have absolutely no say in how policy is created or the nation is managed. What Mrs Tymoshenko seems to be proposing might help to redress this situation but it does not go far enough as it still retains much of the former post-Soviet system. What is really needed is a complete review of our whole political system and for power to be given back to the people.

For democracy to work the people must feel that they are listened to and represented by their leaders and their elected officials and the opposition must understand that they are not free agents to wheel and deal in their own interests but they are public servants entrusted through the ballot box with the role of improving the living standards, job security and financial status of the people and the nation.

Before the end of the year People First will have the results of their extensive national research into the hopes and aspirations of the Ukrainian people regarding Ukrainian democracy. This will be public information that will be shared with the people and with the political parties in the hope that citizens and political organisations can join the initiative to rebuild democracy in Ukraine.

We seem to be hitting the right notes, says Viktor Tkachuk. Democracy Watch is now read all over the world by an audience of over a million people a week and our opinions are printed in some of the world's leading newspapers and news websites. The government had to modify the election law as a result of the international pressure generated by our activity and three political parties have now been inspired by our ideas. The world is beginning to find out about the reality of Ukraine and this is beginning to change attitudes at home.