KIEV, Dec. 3 - President Viktor Yanukovych on Monday accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Mykola Azarov and his government, a sign the president may have finally secured a majority in Parliament five weeks after parliamentary elections.

At least 226 votes in the 450-seat Parliament are required to approve a new prime minister, while Yanukovych’s Regions Party has last week reported control over 223 seats.

The Regions Party has been struggling to assemble a majority for weeks after the October 28 elections as all parties, including their Communist allies, have flatly refused to join the coalition.

This forced the Regions to tap independent lawmakers to join the majority.

Yanukovych explained the resignation by Azarov’s election to Parliament on the list of the Regions Party, but the prime minister had been recently facing criticism over a scandal involving an agreement over $1 billion liquefied natural gas terminal project.

Parliamentary Speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn said Monday the new government will probably be formed next week, most likely on December 13 or 14.

“I predict that it will take place most likely on December 13 or on December 14,” Lytvyn said. “That’s if there is a constructive dialog in Parliament.”

Ukraine’s newly elected lawmakers will hold their first session on December 12.

Although no one has yet been officially nominated for the post of the next prime minister, analysts said Serhiy Arbuzov, the governor of the National Bank of Ukraine and a close ally of Yanukovych, is probably the No. 1 candidate.

Yanukovych used the same pattern during previous reshuffles of the government by promoting people that has been close and absolutely loyal to him and his family, analysts said.

Other candidates may include Andriy Kliuyev, the secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, the top security body under the president, analysts said.

Kliuyev was the first deputy prime minister before his appointment to the top security post.

Azarov has come under fire for the recently the agreement signed on November 26 that had named Gas Natural Fenosa of Spain as the leading investor in the LNG terminal project.

The agreement, signed in presence of Azarov and Energy and Coal Industry Minister Yuriy Boyko, but the Spanish company hours later had flatly denied any involvement in the project. The company said a person who signed the agreement had nothing to do with Gas Natural Fenosa.

This triggered a political storm in Ukraine and the criticism of the government.

The Communist Party, an ally of the Regions Party, joined the opposition Batkivshchyna party on Monday with calls for an investigation into the agreement.

“I insist on behalf of the party: Let’s hear a report on the agreement signed in the presence of Azarov with an unknown person,” Petro Symonenko, the leader of the Communist Party, said, calling the agreement a “shame for all of Ukraine.”

Batkivshchyna last week said the newly elected Parliament will hold its investigation into the agreement, and called for resignation of those officials who had contributed to the setback.

Lytvyn said the LNG project agreement will be an issue when a candidate for the post of the new prime minister is debated in Parliament.

“This issue will be heard during the nomination of the next prime minister,” Lytvyn said. (tl/ez)