Experts: Government to play purely technical role in 2013
Kyiv, February 11 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The executive branch of government will remain in the hands of the Ukrainian president and his entourage this year, Deputy General Director and Director of Political and Legal Programs at the Razumkov Center Yuriy Yakymenko has said.
"The executive branch of government will remain in the hands of the president and his entourage, and the government will play a purely technical role," he said at a press conference at Interfax-Ukraine on Monday during the presentation of the center's forecast "Ukraine 2013: Between the Elections. Facing the Choice."
Among the major trends of the domestic political situation in the country, the political scientist named the continuation of the conflict between the opposition and the ruling party in parliament, the strengthening of control by presidential structures over the judiciary, and the strengthening of the influence of law enforcement agencies on the domestic political situation.
The director of economic programs at the center, Vasyl Yurchyshyn, said a process of hryvnia devaluation is inevitable in 2013. He also predicted moderate growth of inflation and an increase in the state budget deficit.
Speaking at a press conference, a co-director of programs of foreign policy and international security, Mykhailo Pashkov, said that the year 2013 could be the year of choice for Ukraine and the year of the adoption of certain decisions in foreign policy, given the fact that the potential for the country's transit condition is almost exhausted.
"We are between two centers of influence - the European Union and the Customs Union. The possibility of accession to certain contracts of the Customs Union is ruled out, since there are clear standards – the legal framework of the Customs Union does not envisage accession to a certain part of the agreement of the Customs Union. It's currently impossible to talk about some partial accession. The choice for Ukraine will be put more clearly and firmly," the expert said.