Coalition Collapses

[stepanstas]

Fall of Ukraine Coalition Gives Opening to New President

KIEV, Ukraine—Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko's governing majority in Ukraine's parliament collapsed Tuesday, bringing her newly elected rival, President Viktor Yanukovych, a step closer to his goal of removing her from office.

Volodymyr Lytvyn, the parliament speaker, declared that Ms. Tymoshenko's coalition had failed to collect enough signatures from legislators to show that it maintained a majority in the 450-seat body. That means Ms. Tymoshenko is likely to lose a parliamentary vote of confidence Wednesday, giving Mr. Yanukovych's Party of Regions a chance to form a new government.

Mr. Yanukovych, who defeated Ms. Tymoshenko in the Feb. 7 presidential election, is seeking to consolidate his power to govern a country that has long suffered political paralysis, and that last year saw its economy shrink by 15%. At his inauguration on Feb. 25, the new president promised to revive the economy, overhaul state structures and fight corruption—and called for "effective cooperation between the president, parliament and government."

But Ms. Tymoshenko has refused to recognize Mr. Yanukovych's victory, claiming it was tainted by vote fraud—even after international monitors called it fair. In televised remarks Tuesday, she said legislators who abandoned her coalition had "destroyed the last bastion, the last barricade defending everything Ukrainian."

She indicated that she would resign if she lost Wednesday's vote, rather than remain as a caretaker prime minister until a new government is formed.

Parliament would have 30 days to agree on a governing coalition. Failing that, Mr. Yanukovych would have the right to call early parliamentary elections.

Political analysts said Mr. Yanukovych appears likely to succeed in assembling a majority, but only after a process of prolonged horse-trading among divided parliamentary parties.

Mr. Yanukovych's Party of Regions is negotiating with former President Viktor Yushchenko's Our Ukraine bloc, which was part of Ms. Tymoshenko's coalition but is now split over whether to back the new president. Many of its nationalist supporters in western Ukraine are wary of Mr. Yanukovych's overtures to Russia. Mr. Lytvyn's bloc, once loyal to Ms. Tymoshenko, is expected to back Mr. Yanukovych.

Our Ukraine and Mr. Lytvyn's bloc are left with little room for maneuvering; their falling popularity means they could struggle in new elections.

"The likelihood of a new coalition has risen after today's events," said Volodymyr Fesenko, a political analyst in Kiev.

Mr. Yanukovych at the end of last month named three possible candidates for prime minister: Mykola Azarov, a former finance minister and close ally; Serhiy Tihipko, a former central banker who placed third in the presidential election; and Arseniy Yatsenyuk, a former foreign minister from the Our Ukraine bloc.

[V-G]

RPT-TIMELINE-Ukrainian politics since the 2004 Orange Revolution
Wed Mar 3, 2010 9:11am EST

March 3 (Reuters) - Ukraine's parliament dismissed the government of Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko on Wednesday.

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Following is a timeline of political events since the mass protests brought pro-Western politicians to power in 2004.

Jan. 23, 2005 - Viktor Yushchenko is sworn in as president after street protests in November and December against a rigged election won by then-Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich.

-- Yulia Tymoshenko, Yushchenko's "Orange Revolution" ally, is named prime minister within days.

Sept. 8 - Yushchenko dismisses Tymoshenko's government after infighting. Yuri Yekhanurov, a presidential ally, replaces her.

March 26, 2006 - Yanukovich's Regions Party emerges as the largest party in a parliamentary election with 186 of 450 seats, but is outnumbered by the combined "orange" score of 243. Orange groups, however, fail to form a coalition after months of talks.

July 18 - A coalition made up of the president's opponents proposes Yanukovich as prime minister. He is approved a month later after promising not to reverse pro-Western policies.

Jan. 12, 2007 - Yanukovich supporters pass law to reduce Yushchenko's control of the government, a blow to his authority.

April 2 - Yushchenko dissolves parliament, calls election, leading to months of turmoil.

Sept. 30 - In a new election "Orange" parties win a majority of 227 seats -- one more than needed to win most votes in the 450-seat chamber.

Dec. 18 - Parliament approves Tymoshenko as prime minister with 226 votes, the minimum number required to take office.

Aug. 18, 2008 - President's office says Tymoshenko betrays national interests by not backing Georgia in its conflict with Russia.

Sept. 3 - Our Ukraine, Yushchenko's allies, quit "Orange" coalition after denouncing joint vote by Tymoshenko's bloc and Yanukovich's party. The president threatens to call an election.

Nov. 6 - The IMF approves a $16.4 billion loan programme for Ukraine to ease strains from the global financial crisis. Days later it receives its first tranche worth $4.5 billion.

Jan. 20, 2009 - Russian gas reaches Europe via Ukraine for the first time in two weeks after Moscow and Kiev end a prices and debt row that cut supplies to about 20 European countries. Yushchenko says the deal clinched by Tymoshenko is a "defeat".

March 3 - Parliament sacks Foreign Minister Volodymyr Ohryzko, a Yushchenko ally, citing his aggressive stance against Russia and for bungling a territorial dispute with Romania.

June 5 - Parliament dismisses another Yushchenko ally, Defence Minister Yuri Yekhanurov over allegations of corruption in the ministry.

Oct. 30 - Yushchenko says he signed a bill raising minimum wage by over 20 percent by the end of 2010 at an extra cost of $10 billion. The IMF suspends lending as the measure breaches government promises to keep the budget deficit under control.

Dec. 9 - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev says it would be "irresponsible" to amend gas supply contracts with Ukraine, in a sign Moscow will offer no more concessions to its neighbour on gas payments. Yushchenko had asked Russia in November to change the gas supply deal, saying it was too onerous for Ukraine.

Jan. 17, 2010 - Yushchenko is defeated in presidential election. A Feb. 7 run-off is set between Tymoshenko and Yanukovich.

Feb. 12 - NATO and the EU's new president join U.S. President Barack Obama in congratulating Yanukovich on his election victory.

Feb. 14 - Yanukovich is formally declared winner by 3.48 percentage points by the main election body, leaving Tymoshenko with only a slender chance of taking power through a legal challenge.

Feb. 25 - Yanukovitch is inaugurated as new president.

March 2 - The ruling coalition collapses as Yanukovich moves to oust Tymoshenko and consolidate his power.

March 3 - Deputies pass a motion of no confidence in Tymoshenko's administration. Yanukovich's Regions Party now has to form its own coalition within 30 days and a government within another 60, or face snap parliamentary elections. (Writing by David Cutler, London Editorial Reference Unit; Additional writing by Sabina Zawadzki; Editing by Jon Boyle)

[stepanstas]

Good summary.

I really hate the "vote of confidence" in a parlimentary system. It's so face. Makes the process sound so technical.

[V-G]

It is a good summary, isn't it?

If ever asked "why is Ukraine in such dire economic slump?" this summary provides 80% of the answer. I do hope that eventually things change, this is a freak show.

[stepanstas]

Sad thing is, now the world has a good reason to mock us. Now you can hear Orange Revolution failure, and can't blame them for it. I think the political system and the untouchable political figures causes most of our problems. Its never stable with coalitions and parties and fists in parliament.



How they voted for Yulia "vote of confidence" a few years back. Wondering how the second vote didn't work? A guy stole the speaker's card.

[V-G]

I have been to circuses where animals were better behaved than that! This is embarrassing.

[stepanstas]

I think your gonna like this. Someone told me about the site. I couldn't stop laughing. Yulia and Yanukovich characters are right on the money. Yuschenko too in that one part.





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