KIEV, July 5 – Parliamentary Speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn, who after submitting his resignation was taken ill and is undergoing intravenous therapy, is facing renewed pressure to sign a controversial language bill.

The bill, which de-facto makes Russian the second state language in many Ukrainian regions, has triggered a political crisis and clashes between riot police and protesters.

Lytvyn needs to sign the bill before it can reach President Viktor Yanukovych, whose signature within the next two weeks is required for it to come into law.

Oleksandr Yefremov, the leader of the Regions Party in Parliament, said Lytvyn, who opposes the bill, would have to sign it or the party will seek a court order against the speaker.

“I met Lytvyn today in his office. I can’t say that he looks good, but I did not come to ask about his health,” Yefremov said. “I conveyed to him my thoughts about the latest events. He is thinking.”

Yanukovych on Thursday denied media reports that he had a secret meeting with Lytvyn.

Lytvyn has become a key political figure whose actions now may either calm the escalating political crisis or trigger a major deterioration that could potentially split Ukraine.

The introduction of the language legislation is believed to be an important element ahead of the Russian-Ukrainian natural gas talks expected to resume on July 12. Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to visit Ukraine and Yanukovych hopes to secure a discount on natural gas prices, Vadym Karasiov, the director of the Institute for Global Strategies, said.

Meanwhile, at a meeting with seven opposition figures on Wednesday, Lytvyn has promised not to sign the controversial bill.

His resignation makes it even less likely that the bill would come into effect any time soon as it would be extremely hard if not impossible for the Regions Party to approve the new speaker before October elections.

Lytvyn’s resignation from the post will put the situation in a deadlock that will probably not benefit Yanukovych and his political allies.

Parliament is expected to debate the resignation on Friday. If lawmakers decide to move forward with the resignation, they would have to cast their ballots, a process that is not under control of the presidential administration.

“Tomorrow we would like to put this issue into agenda and to decide when to hold the vote,” Yefremov said. “I don’t think that Parliament will go for dismissing the speaker.”

Due to the ongoing political crisis, Parliament cancelled a scheduled report by the Finance Minister that was due on Friday.

Responding to the crisis, the parliamentary majority, led by the Regions Party, voted to approve new regulation that makes it easier to appoint and to dismiss the speaker of Parliament.

But approval of the legislation, however, also needs a signature from Lytvyn before it can be signed by Yanukovych to come into effect.

Without this legislation, the Regions Party would need to have at least 300 votes to appoint the next speaker of Parliament, which falls short of the 255 seats they currently control. (tl/ez)