Orange Revolution marriage headed towards a bitter divorce

KYIV (AP) – The hero and heroine of the Orange Revolution are once again on the brink of divorce. And it’s ordinary Ukrainians who are paying the price. In the seven months since President Viktor Yushchenko and Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko reunited in a coalition government with vows to carry out crucial reforms, they have spent more time sniping at each other than governing. Experts say the question isn’t if, but rather when the coalition will collapse. Meanwhile, Ukrainians are tightening their belts to cope with 30 percent inflation – the highest in Europe. Economic progress has been hampered by rampant corruption and the lack of judicial, land and other reforms. “It’s hard to imagine how it could be worse. They simply haven’t done anything. It’s been a political crisis,” said political analyst Ivan Lozowy. The... [read full story]