KIEV, Dec. 9 – President Viktor Yanukovych on Sunday nominated incumbent Mykola Azarov for a second term as prime minister following intensive consultations with his Regions Party.

The nomination shows that Azarov’s candidacy has prevailed, at least for now, over that of Serhiy Arbuzov, the governor of the National Bank of Ukraine, who is close to the Yanukovych family.

Oleksandr Yefremov, the leader of the Regions Party group in Parliament, said the party, in conversations with Yanukovych, has clearly favored Azarov.

“Azarov will allow continuing systemic reforms initiated by President Yanukovych and carried out by the Cabinet of Ministers under the leadership of Azarov since 2010,” Yefremov said.

The opposition Batkivshchyna party on Sunday issued a statement sharply criticized the nomination as a “mockery” of the Ukrainian people by Yanukovych.

“The nomination of this candidacy for the post of the prime minister looks like the mockery of the Ukrainian people on the part of President Yanukovych, who take personal responsibility for the government and the entire situation in the country,” Batkivshchyna said.

Yanukovych is responsible for the “failure of the reforms, deepening of economic crisis and further impoverishment of the people,” Batkivshchyna said.

The nomination has to secure at least 226 votes in the 450-seat Parliament, according to constitution.

Should Azarov’s candidacy fail to secure enough votes in Parliament, Yanukovych would have to submit another candidate.

The Regions Party, along with several dozens of loyal independent lawmakers, has been recently reported to control only 223 seats, which may potentially create a hurdle for Azarov, analysts said.

Newly elected lawmakers are supposed to take their seats for the first time on December 12, following parliamentary elections on October 28.

The vote over the new prime minister is expected to take place on December 13 or December 14, according to pro-government lawmakers.

Yanukovych, who is expected to travel to India for a visit between December 9 and December 12, is expected to return to Ukraine when Parliament is to debate and vote over the new prime minister.

Azarov, in a statement posted on his website, said that he will probably announce the composition of the new government on December 13 or December 14.

One of the first big challenges of the new government will be to negotiate a new bailout program from the International Monetary Fund to follow a $15 billion package which was suspended in early 2011.

An IMF mission is due to visit late in January for what are expected to be tough talks.

The mood of foreign investors was reflected last Friday in a revaluation by credit agency Standard and Poor's which downgraded Ukraine's sovereign rating by one notch to 'B' with a negative outlook. (tl/ez)