Despite the danger of being called sexist, I for one regret somewhat that Ukraine will no longer have the prettiest prime minister in the entire history of the known world.
But we all know Ms. Yulia Tymoshenko, unlike Elvis, has not left the building. She remains the two-ton gorilla in the room, though still a petite size five Gucci/Versace/ Ralph Lauren clad one. She is smart, formidable, and, that over used word, charismatic.
Eventually, we will probably know most of the deals cut that gave President Viktor Yushchenko his new prime minister, Yuri Yekhanurov, on a second round of balloting in the Rada.
One does not go from being down three votes to having plus 60 extra without having a sea-change in something other than a massive gravitational pull of tweaked conscience. No, we're talking coarse horse trading here.
We do know that Yushchenko promised his arch enemy in the last presidential race, former prime minister Viktor Yanukovych, absolution from any criminal charges, sort of a get out of jail free card in Monopoly game terms. The same apparently for others in Yanukovych's party who might have been targets of investigation.
Another concession - which one would think already would be a hallmark of the fading principles of the Orange Revolution - was opposition access to the air waves leading up to the next election.
As for Yulia and the other Viktor, Yushchenko said they had made up. Tymoshenko said they had made up. A mere few hours earlier, the China was in danger of being shattered in a political food fight of bitter acrimony between the President and his former prime minister.
But this is Ukraine, and politics works in strange and mysterious ways. For example, where else can the party of blue flag boogieman, Yanukovych, provide the margin of victory for a new government.
A few weeks ago, Yanukovych was supposedly the Darth Vader of the East. His Party of the Regions sat out the first ballot. The "new old government" had been talking about investigating him.
All that having been said, Yushchenko made the right move in dismissing his government. He also made the right decision in bartering with Yanukovych to put a government together. The fact is, when it comes to Ukrainian politics, there ain't no virgins in this bordello.
While not cleaning house completely, Yushchenko thumped the perceived trouble-makers, at least for a moment. The conjured image was Biblical, tossing the money-changers from the temple of government.
It is not in the purview of this column to digest all the charges and counter-charges. The "he saids" and "she saids". Or, who is a crook and who is not a crook. The fact is, to many, it appeared the Orange Revolution was a great opening act that fizzled. One could almost hear the gurgle in the death rattle.
Politics, however, is often compared to watching sausage being made.
It's not a pretty sight, but the results can be satisfying. This is what's happening in Ukraine now, and the jockeying will continue up to and probably through the March Rada elections.
The new prime minister, Yekhanurov, has been a friend for many years, 11 to be exact. When I first came to Ukraine,
I worked with him when he was head of the State Property Fund during early mass privatization. He is described as a technocrat.
Technocrat seems the word most often used by the press when a long-time political functionary is raised to a more substantial status. It doesn't tell the story. He is an economist, and he was first deputy prime minister to Yushchenko under President Kuchma in 2001.
He is believed as honest as any, more honest than most. In fact, to my knowledge, a hint of scandal has never wafted over him. He has served well in all of his positions, the last being his appointment as governor of Dnipropetrovsk Region.
What's more, Yushchenko trusts Yekhanurov, and he can be counted on to work toward policies favored by the man who remains the spirit of the Orange Revolution. It was this idea of hope that drew thousands to Independence Square late last year and galvanized and fascinated millions around the world.
But then, there I go again, regaining optimism - a feverish naivety that has been characteristic of many of us expatriates who enjoy the fruits of wanting to live in Ukraine, and hope that the legal and regulatory - the general business climate - has changed.
However, any real change has to be an attitudinal change on the part of the people as a whole. It was interesting to note that many in my own industry - advertising and public relations - who gathered lustily on the Maidan to shout, cheer, and ape a hip-hop mantra, were themselves not legitimate taxpayers. They were and are scofflaws, part of the problem.
However, the opening refrain of a re-polished administration was promising:
There would be no wholesale review of previous privatization transactions, except in the most grievous circumstances. And, there would be more non-politicians in government, whatever that means.
Lofty words.
Unless fairy dust, the policies mean calmer waters for investors and, perhaps, a renewed interest from abroad in direct foreign investment. They mean - and this sounds really starry - some government officials whose only self interest would be the peoples' interest.
There was a flurry of investment activity in the first few months after the revolution. The telephones rang. Investment houses commissioned surveys. Then, by mid-summer, it seemed as if a balloon had been pricked.
Yushchenko, appearing on television after he dismissed the government, gave a strong speech, saying he had to break this "Gordian knot" and fire his friends who had lined up on opposite sides in a near epic power struggle for influence.
It was noted by some that the speech was more forceful than the demeanor of the President.
The next day was Tymoshenko's turn. As usual, she gave a fiery talk during an interview, all but promising the strongest of oppositions, though on what she called a parallel course, which, to this observer, seemed a mismatch of tactics.
Now they have kissed - well, at least exchanged SMS messages - and made up. This, however, may not last until this magazine goes to print. Tymoshenko's supporters are already yelling sell out.
Days and weeks of uncertainty lie ahead. Under the so-called governmental reform, power shifts from the President to the Prime Minister in 2006. Whether Yushchenko remains sufficiently strong to carry the day is a huge question.
This is especially true given the fact he couldn't get a prime minister approved by the Rada without some serious concessions. Maybe Yushchenko agreed to turn Marinesky Palace into Yanukovych Bowling Club. Who knows?
As for me, I will remain optimistic, perhaps hopelessly so. But then, that's the way it has always been.
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