KIEV, June 16 – President Viktor Yanukovych’s administration will seek to set a date for local elections in Ukraine on October 31, Serhiy Liovochkin, the chief of staff, said Wednesday.

The date must be approved by Parliament, but there were signs the governing coalition have split on the issue, with at least two groups seeking to hold the election next year.

“We believe this is the latest constitutional term when the local election can be held,” Liovochkin said. “This is the date we have come up with.”