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Ukrainian president wins chance to oust rival

Posted on: Wed March 03, 2010

KIEV: Ukraine s new President Viktor Yanukovych on Tuesday won the chance to form his own government after the parliamentary majority of his rival Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko collapsed.    

Tymoshenko, narrowly beaten by Yanukovych in a run-off presidential election last month, had until now been able to claim a majority over Yanukovych s Regions Party and stubbornly held onto her post as prime minister.    

But her majority has now crumbled after a number of lawmakers from minority parties switched their allegiance following her defeat in the February 7 polls.    

 As of today there is no coalition in parliament. Therefore I announce that the coalition has ceased to exist, parliament speaker Volodymr Lytvyn said. Lytvyn s announcement means that according to the constitution, Ukraine s political leaders have 30 days to form a new coalition.    

If they fail, Yanukovych can exercise his right to dissolve parliament and call snap legislative elections that would otherwise not be due until 2012.    

It is up to the majority coalition in parliament to present a candidate for prime minister to the president. Thus if the Regions Party can form a coalition, Yanukovych will finally be able to unseat Tymoshenko.    

Tymoshenko reacted with fury to the break-up of her coalition, describing its collapse as the ruin of the last fortress that was defending everything that is Ukrainian.     

She said that once the names of the defectors became known, it would become clear who bears the responsibility for opening the way to Yanukovych for an anti-Ukrainian absolute dictatorship.     

Those who crossed sides have come from the minority Our Ukraine-People s Self Defence (NUNS) faction, part of which is loyal to Tymoshenko but which also has members loyal another of her enemies, ex-president Viktor Yushchenko.

Tymoshenko, a charismatic politician famed for her golden hair braid, has so far shown no sign of planning to surrender her job as prime minister despite repeated calls from the Regions Party for her to step down.    

She has refused to recognise Yanukovych as the new president, alleging the elections were marred by mass fraud even though international observers praised their conduct.    

Yanukovych took office late last month and the prospect of the two sworn rivals cohabiting in the country s top posts has raised fears of prolonged political crisis at a time when Ukraine is in dire need of stability.

But the head of Tymoshenko s parliamentary faction, Ivan Kyrylenko, said the government would bow out gracefully if Yanukovych could muster the 226 votes needed for a majority.

 If they can find 226 votes, we will shake their hands and wish them good luck, he said.

Ukrainian media have speculated that if Yanukovych unseats Tymoshenko he could install a close ally like top Regions Party official Mykola Azarov as prime minister.    

But he may also be tempted by a figure from outside his party with broader appeal, like younger politicians Sergiy Tigipko or Arseniy Yatseniuk, who came third and fourth respectively in the presidential elections.    

 The most likely outcome is that 230 deputies will back the coalition and announce Azarov or Yatseniuk as prime minister, said Ukrainian political analyst Kost Bondarenko. Regions Party officials publicly expressed confidence they could muster the required votes.

Courtesy : The News