Following the first 100 days of Yanukovych’s presidency, restoration of stability and government’s efficiency can be named as its main achievements, however a shift towards “managed democracy” represents its major failure. That is the opinion expressed in a commentary to ZIK news agency by a director of Political and Legal Programmes of the Razumkov Centre Yuriy Yakymenko. “Overall, this period is marked by a tendency to form another type of political regime characterized by a centralized authority,” he said. “Restoration of government’s efficiency is the first achievement made by the new president’s team during this period.” “However while positively appreciating the recovery of government’s efficiency, it is necessary to consider that it was done in violation of the law. Sometimes it was done contrary to the public opinion or while ignoring it. In particular, the officials’ appointments were made mainly on the principles of party or political loyalty,” Yakymenko said. In his opinion, Ukraine’s new government has renewed such negative phenomena as pressure on the media and the politicisation of law enforcement agencies. In addition, the government attempts to increase its influence on different spheres of justice agencies. “In the sphere of domestic policy little has been achieved so far. For example, the anti-corruption initiatives put forward by the president have rather one-sided character, since the creation of the anti-corruption committee is a mere recreation of the same body that existed during both Yushchenko and Kuchma years, with nothing being done at the legislative level,” expert said. Yakymenko believes that the current government is stable today since there is no drastic deterioration of the socio-economic conditions being expected. And this is the main factor that could trigger protests. Nevertheless Yuriy Yakymenko said that if the government resorts to ignoring the public opinion, while making opaque decisions it will subsequently contribute to accumulation of public resentment and increase the protest potential. | 
