President Yanukovich offers major concessions
As the political crisis in Ukraine, brewing since November 2013, now makes a deadly turn, all parties there must take immediate steps to defuse the tension and contain the downward spiral. Towards this end, the concessions offered by the embattled President, Mr Viktor Yanukovich, on Friday, are a welcome development, even if it is too early to decide if they’ll be enough to restore normalcy in the country. Part of a peace deal that is being brokered by Poland, France and Germany, the concessions had not been accepted by opposition leaders till the last minute, as violence in Kiev continued through Friday. It also remains unclear if the deal, even if signed and sealed between leaders, will be enough to satisfy the protestors and move them from the streets. Camped in the Maidan in the heart of Kiev, they have proved to be a determined lot. Over the past few months, they have braved the bitter winter chill, occasional police crackdowns and most recently, even a spray of bullets. Several people died on Thursday after snipers fired live ammunition at protestors who had earlier ‘captured' police officers and paraded them through the Maidan. It is possible now that a section of the protesters may not accept anything less than the immediate resignation of the President. On his part, Mr Yanukovich, who was voted to power in 2010, has promised to restore the 2004 Constitution within 48 hours, form a national unity Government in the next 10 days, undertake a reforms process that “balances the remit of the Ukrainian President, Government and Parliament” and hold a presidential election after the new Constitution is adopted but no later than the end of this year. Additionally, he has also promised not to impose a state of Emergency or authorise the use of force against the protestors. On paper, this looks like a good deal for the opposition forces who seem to have got all the major concessions they had demanded. However, the fact that the date of the presidential election had not been confirmed and the prospect of Mr Yanukovich remaining in office till December does not sit well with many who view this as a stalling tactic.
If nothing else, the President's concessions indicate his weakening grip over national politics. It is hardly a coincidence that they came after Opposition leaders joined hands with some members from the pro-Government party and convened a session in Parliament on Thursday. Together, they passed a resolution compelling the Home Ministry to order the troops back to their barracks and the police to their usual posts. The Government was also prohibited from using firearms against protestors while Mr Yanukovich was warned that only legislators, not the President, could declare an Emergency. Mr Yanukovich has already lost much support within the establishment — the Mayor of Kiev has left the ruling party while the deputy head of the armed forces has also resigned.