Third time’s a charm

Applause, ovations, more ovations, laughter in the sessions hall, one or two challenges, and applause at the end. That’s more-or-less the picture of reactions among MPs in the Verkhovna Rada to the President’s annual State of the Nation address. Despite it’s official name, “The President’s Annual Address to the Verkhovna Rada,” the President spoke and the legislature “responded” not at all for each other’s benefit. Both sides were addressing Ukrainian voters. Voters will give their response to what they heard and saw only two years from now—provided, of course, that everything goes well for today’s speaker.