KIEV, Nov. 29 – President Viktor Yushchenko was formally approved Saturday as the leader of Our Ukraine, the party which controls the third-biggest number of seats in Parliament, in a move that may ease Ukraine’s political crisis.

Yushchenko, who has been always considered the de-facto leader of the party that he created in 2001, replaces Viachelav Kyrylenko, who will continue to be the head of Our Ukraine’s parliamentary group.

The reshuffle comes as both Our Ukraine and Yushchenko have been losing popular support and need to energize their image ahead of possible snap parliamentary election and upcoming presidential vote.

“I am ready to assume responsibility [for the party],” Yushchenko said addressing an Our Ukraine conference on Saturday.

The move should enable Yushchenko to de-jure represent the party in talks over important issues, such as creation of a new coalition in Parliament, and comes as Yushchenko said he seeks to add “adrenalin” and “energy” to party members.

The move would also allow Yushchenko to lead the list of Our Ukraine members for the snap election, which may be held in February 2009.

“The very fact of [Yushchenko] leading the list would be a symbol for our voters and our supporters,” Kseniya Liapina, a senior member of Our Ukraine, said after the conference.

Yushchenko’s election to the top post at Our Ukraine is expected to strengthen morale and discipline among party members that have been frequently sending conflicting political messages.

One of the first steps that Yushchenko-led Our Ukraine is likely to push for in Parliament will probably be an attempt to elect Ivan Pliushch, a long-time ally of Yushchenko, as the speaker of Parliament, analysts said.

“Now one can expect formation of a new composition in Parliament and Our Ukraine’s support for a speaker candidacy that will be nominated by the president,” Vadym Karasiov, the head of the Institute for Global Strategies.

“Acceptance of Pliushch by Our Ukraine would open door for exit from the current stage of parliamentary and political crisis,” he said.

Pliushch, who was elected to Parliament on the ticket of Our Ukraine, had openly refused to support the government of Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko in December 2007. Pliushch was a vocal supporter of the grand coalition that would include the Regions Party, the largest group in Parliament.

Parliament is deadlocked since September 2 when coalition supporting Tymoshenko had has collapsed shortly after Tymoshenko, in alliance with the Regions Party, had tried to dramatically reduce powers of the president.

Yushchenko in early October issued decree dismissing Parliament, but was later forced to postpone the decree as Ukraine had plunged into severe financial crisis with the hryvnia losing almost 44% of its value over the past two months.

The move allowed lawmakers to approve important legislation that had opened way for approval of $16.4 billion emergency loan from the International Monetary Fund earlier in November.

But lawmakers are now under great pressure to approve the new speaker after Arseniy Yatsniuk has submitted resignation and has been dismissed from the post earlier in November.

Yushchenko may still resume his decree dismissing Parliament and calling the snap election in February, if lawmakers “fail to approve Pliushch as the new speaker,” Karasiov said.

The developments come as Tymoshenko has threatened to resume talks with the opposition Regions Party for creation of the coalition if Our Ukraine fails to join the Tymoshenko group in Parliament by December 1.

Tymoshenko has been holding active consultations with the Regions Party over the past several days, according to people familiar with the situation. Tymoshenko group declined to comment. (tl/ez)