BBC World News Service

18 November 2005


The RTC in Brief

The referendum about political unification of Galicia and Volhynia did indeed take place on November 25, 2004, in an atmosphere of violence, intimidation and fraud. Nevertheless, the plebiscite ended in a huge majority for unification at both ends. However, the Lithuanian regime reacted oppressively, and the decisions taken by the people still haven't been implemented yet.

As a result of the government's inability to act and react, the RNDO, the party of the Ruthenian minority and one of the major parties of the RTC, finally withdrew from it in December. Chancellor Sacz remained in office at the head of a minority government, contantly supported by changing majorities. It was unable to do much about the situation, even more so than it had been previously.

In these circumstances, the Volhynian-Galician problem and the situation in Southeast Florida lingered on. The fact that this minority government never fell and was not forced to organise new elections can be considered one of those true miracles that only the RTC seems to be able to produce.

Last April, seven rightist parties in Veneda, as well as fourteen other political and social organisations formed a new political bloc, the so-called "ŻŻŻ". It became a loose confederation of very different parties, most but not all of them conservative in signature.

On September 25, elections for the Sejm took place. They ended in a huge victory for the ŻŻŻ, as well for the conservative agricultural party WPP. Talks for the formation of a new government are still going on, and a new government is soon to be expected. In the meantime, the demissionary government of chancellor Jan Sacz is still acting. It is unknown who the new chancellor will be. Powerful candidates seem to be former general Marek Aldendorf, bank president Alfred Swiss-Oberg, and ŻŻŻ leader Leoń Janać.