Party of Regions won’t be able to lead mounting public protests against Tymoshenko cabinet - expert

“I cannot see how the PR, given its present condition, can garner the support of 100,000 it pledged to lead to the rally in Kyiv on Friday. Not even considering the administrative levers and influence of PR-controlled company managers, let alone immense transportation problems,” Kulyk noted.

“Given the difficult financial position of Ukrainians, the PR will have to pay its way to call the rally. I think, it won’t be a sincere protest action but rather part of political pressure and political horse-trading involving the PR, BYUT and Pres Yushchenko,” the expert opined.

Currently, the PR is trying to lead the entire protest movement. The latter is spontaneous, localized and disorganized, showing signs, however, of a new social movement that is not aligned to any political party. It is very likely that future protest actions will be organized by non-aligned civil movements. The PR can either join this movement, or play it up, but it will never be able to lead it, same as the Communists or any other political party, the expert believes.