Ukraine's new parliament on Thursday opened its first session,
while the outgoing government submitted its resignation ahead of a
coalition taking form in June.
The 450 newly elected legislators were sworn in the ornate
chamber that once served as home to Soviet Ukraine's
parliament.
The five parties taking seats in parliament are expected to hold
consultations on the formation of a coalition government within a
month.
According to law, Prime Minister Yuri Yekhanurov announced the
resignation of his government. The parliament, however, empowered
him to head a care-taking cabinet until the new government is set
up.
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The parliament decided to hold another session on June 7 to elect
parliamentary leaders and discuss the formation of a
government.
At Thursday's session, Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko
told law makers that he hoped the new parliament and the coalition
government in the making would give full backing to his reform
initiatives.
The new parliament faces the grave task of improving the system
of political power and the legal environment to ensure economic
growth and national unity, Yushchenko said.
Ukraine held parliamentary elections on March 26. The Party of
the Regions won the most votes, but failed to obtain a majority,
forcing the country into difficult coalition talks.
The other parties to make it over the barrier were those of
ousted Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, President Yushchenko's
bloc, the Socialists and the Communists.
(Xinhua News Agency May 26, 2006)
