Political rigamarole (+ rap)

If the Ukrainians were hoping for national solidarity after the Orange Revolution, then they must be sorely disappointed by the haphazard conglomeration of political "blocs" now struggling for control.

The Ukrainian parliament is currently stuck in a deadlock over starting the NATO membership process (specifically, whether a referendum should be held first) and has consequently been in recess for over a month. In such a situation, the President does have the right to dismiss the parliament and hold new elections, but Yushchenko would be loathe to do so considering the increasing influence of his political rivals.

Primary among these is the remarkably attractive, sometime oil oligarch Yulia Tymoshenko, who is now Prime Minister and the head of a three-party coalition in the parliament which bears her name. Just last year Tymoshenko and Yushchenko agreed to join forces to form a governing majority against the pro-Russia Party of Regions. They had, after all, both been crucial players in the Orange Revolution. The agreement has proved quite tenuous, however, and at times the two figures initiate contradictory legislation and offer opposing viewpoints on major political issues (most recently, they sparred over the role of intermediary companies in Russia-Ukraine oil relations).

The left-populist Party of Regions, although it certainly endured a setback after the revolution, has recovered well. Naturally, this is the party of choice in the southeastern region of the country, where numerous ethnic Russians make a living near the Dunbas mines. They had the best performance of all the parties and blocs in the 2006 election, with some 32% of the vote, and and the same occurred in 2007, when they received 34%.

Here's a multi-colored representation of the current Ukrainian parliament (for my far-sighted readership: click on it and you'll actually be able to read it):


Recently Yushchenko's Chief of Staff, Baloha, resigned his membership in the President's Our Ukraine bloc. The party's popularity has dropped off dramatically since coming to power, amid scandal and serious questions about whether numerous mini-parties that constitute the bloc can actually unite. It is speculated that Baloha will attempt the formation of a new centrist party, one that could actually secure Yushchenko's re-election in 2010. Although few politicians so quickly abandon the organizations they themselves founded, it is probably a wise move. According to one survey, a mere 10% of the Ukrainian electorate would be willing to vote for the Our Ukraine bloc if an election were suddenly to be held (compare that with 30% for the Tymoshenko bloc and 23% for the Party of Regions).

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On an entirely unrelated and slightly more risqué note, here's a video of Seryoga, who is without a doubt the most successful rapper in the Russian-speaking world and a resident of the increasingly flashy Ukrainian capital, Kyiv (or "Kiev", for the uncultured). Coming from a very working-class Belorussian neighborhood, he has risen to become an award-winning artist and, more importantly, the composer of the most popular ring tone in Russia. This video is especially noteworthy for its trio of comely women, wearing fur hats and very little else. (And who could resist?)