Summing up 2008, forecasting for 2009: political expert Dmytro Vyrdin

Intrigue of the year.
The major political intrigue in 2008 was who, the president or premier, would be the first to waste his/her opponent. It was a hefty and long live-or-die battle. Both have had their share of successes and failures, but until some of the two remain politically live the winner can’t be named. Currently, Premier Tymoshenko has more points. As for the Party of Regions, it is not smart enough to cash in on the ongoing tug-of-war. PR has not learned to put up its own fight. It has not lost much in 2008, yet it has not won much.
The loser of  2008.
Here belong all key politicians. Their ratings have sunk significantly, as evidenced by opinion polls.
The winner of 2008.
It is definitely former Rada Speaker Yatseniuk. He has learned to jump ship 10 minutes it would hit the rocks. He jumped the Ukrainian Titanic and started to garner the votes of Ukrainians. So far, he seems to be the only winner, but it is not known if he will be able to beef up his rating in the future. 
Trends of 2009
The 2009 will be the year of elections, both snap parliamentary and presidential. Apparently, they will be held in October. In addition, there will be local snap mayoral elections, or even all local elections.
Unfortunately, no significant changes will happen as the result of elections. There will be the reformatting of political elites, but the real change of elites will probably occur in 2-3 years. Developments in 2009 will expose all the three main rivals, Yushchenko, Tymoshenko and Yanukovych, who will lose whatever ratings they have now. The 2009 will, therefore, will become a good springboard for the emergence of new elites later on.
I wish the president and premier would say goodbye to Ukrainians in their New Year addresses. I wish they would sit together, clasping their hands and saying: “We will step down together.” It would make the best gift for Ukrainians.