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Pro-government majority collapses in Rada
Journal Staff Report

KIEV, June 8 – Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko’s slim pro-government majority in Parliament de-facto collapsed on Friday after two of its lawmakers announced their decision to quit the coalition.

The move is a major setback for Tymoshenko, whose coalition now has support of only 225 lawmakers in the 450-seat Parliament, one less than required for approving legislation.

The development does not require Tymoshenko’s immediate resignation and she is expected to continue to run the minority government.

But under certain conditions, such as a continued stalemate and inability to approve a budget, the development may force President Viktor Yushchenko to dismiss Parliament and to call an early election later this year.

Tymoshenko said Friday she was concerned over the future of the coalition, while Yushchenko said he had believed the coalition would be able to survive.

“This is not a legal reason to talk about the collapse of the coalition,” Yushchenko said Friday in St. Petersburg while attending the Russian economic forum. “Signals for mutual understanding and for effective actions, including by the government, are extremely needed for the coalition to get the second wind.”

Raisa Bohatyriova, the secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, the top security body under the president, said Sunday the president will not seek to replace Tymoshenko.

“I am convinced that the president will not interfere into the issue of the coalition,” Bohatyriova said in an interview with ICTV. “This is not an issue for the president.

“Unless these issues threaten the national security, no doubt the president will give an opportunity for Parliamentary groups to do the best they can to renew stable development in the country,” Bohatyriova said.

Meanwhile, Former Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, the leader of the opposition Regions Party, said Friday his party had been holding talks with undisclosed groups to try to create a new coalition in Parliament.

Analysts said the groups may include Our Ukraine-People’s Self-defense and the centrist group led by former Parliamentary Speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn. Both groups refused to comment.

Our Ukraine-People’s Self-defense controls 72 seats and consent from at least 37 lawmakers is needed for creating the new coalition. People familiar with the situation said there were not more than 20 lawmakers ready to back the coalition with Yanukovych.

The two lawmakers that quit the coalition include Ihor Rybakov, a member of the Tymoshenko group, and Yuriy But, a member of Our Ukraine-People’s Self-defense.

“Of course, this is not a surprise,” Ivan Vasiunyk, deputy prime minister and a member of Our Ukraine party, said in comments over the development. “But the democratic coalition maintained and I don’t see any reason for creating the grand coalition between Our Ukraine-People’s Self-defense and the Regions Party.” (tl/ez)




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