Ukraine's new pro-Russian coalition asked President Viktor
Yushchenko yesterday to propose his former presidential rival as
the next prime minister, an appointment that would mark a
humiliating defeat for the president and a stunning return to power
for Viktor Yanukovych.
Oleksandr Moroz, the new parliament speaker, signed the
coalition's nomination of Yanukovych as premier and forwarded it to
Yushchenko's office. The president has 15 days to consider the
request before forwarding it back to parliament for a vote. He has
no right to veto the choice.
The move came hours after the new parliamentary coalition, which
brings together eastern Ukrainian industrialists of the Party of
Regions, the Communists and the Socialists, was formally announced
in parliament, striking a major blow to the pro-Western parties who
helped bring Yushchenko to power in 2004 after mass protests
against election fraud.
Yanukovych's victory was later annulled, but he rebounded in the
March 26 parliamentary election this year, with his party winning
more votes than any other.
A government led by Yanukovych would present a major obstacle to
the president's efforts to steer the country towards closer ties
with Western Europe.
The new coalition was created after Socialist Party leader Moroz
abandoned his former "Orange Revolution" allies to be named
parliament speaker and form the new union, which he said was the
only way to unite the country.
Ukraine has been suffering political paralysis since the March
election ended without giving any party the majority, and leaving
the nation deeply split over whether to seek closer ties with
Moscow or the West.
Moroz formally announced the coalition in the chaotic session
hall yesterday to applause from the coalition members and shouts of
"Judas" from his former allies.
The alliance controls at least 233 seats in the 450-member
parliament because some Socialist Party members refused to join
it.
Before announcing the new coalition, lawmakers scuffled, and one
legislator from the president's party appeared to suffer a broken
nose. Moroz had to be flanked by Party of Regions deputies for
protection. Lawmakers from the bloc of Yulia Tymoshenko, a key
figure in the "Orange Revolution," used sirens to drown out
parliamentary speeches. Moroz called a four-hour recess.
Yushchenko's allies pleaded with the president to use his new
constitutional powers to dissolve the parliament and call a new
election, arguing that the new coalition is illegitimate. Under
rules agreed to by the Orange coalition members, if any party left,
the other members should have been given 10 days to hunt for new
partners, lawmakers said.
"I don't see another way out except the decision to dissolve
parliament," said Petro Poroshenko, one of the president's closest
allies. "It is up to the president. The party is ready to support
him."
Yanukovych said his party didn't support new elections, but also
didn't fear them.
"If it happens, we will get a total victory and could stop this
mess," he said. Yanukovych's party won the most votes in the March
elections but fell short of a majority.
(China Daily July 12, 2006)
