A solid victory

The "orange" (pro-Western) parties have won by a comfortable margin in Sunday's election for the Verkhovna Rada (parliament) in Ukraine. I note that reports put the Communist party's share of the vote at around 5% -- quite a comedown for those who once ruled unchallenged. And here's an interesting view from Estonia.

This means that the period of divided government is over, and that the "orange" leadership is free to move Ukraine firmly into the Western camp. Vladimir Putin cannot be a happy man today.

Update (2 Oct.): OK, not so fast. The situation has now become murkier, though still hopeful.