Rada Speaker signs controversial language law

Verkhovna Rada Speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn signed a controversial law on regional languages yesterday, according to the Rada website. Lytvyn’s signature was required before it could be forwarded to President Viktor Yanukovych; after Yanukovych endorses the law, it will come into effect. Passage of the regional languages in parliament earlier this month sparked hunger strikes and protests from the opposition. Lytvyn submitted his resignation following the vote, but MPs refused to dismiss him on Monday.

Brad Wells: As we wrote yesterday, the signs were pointing toward Lytvyn signing off on the language law. Yanukovych is expected to approve the law in short order as it was sponsored and backed by his colleagues in the Party of Regions. We are believers of the view that this law was first and foremost designed to mobilize the Region’s electorate. Importantly, approval of this law will continue to drive the opposition, in two ways: (1) it will win still undecided voters and those not intending to vote (recent polls indicate this is already happening, partly due to divisions on this sensitive issue – see our other news today on the latest Rating Agency poll) and (2) it will galvanize existing members behind the protest movement.