KIEV, April 6 – Mykola Tomenko, deputy speaker of Parliament and a senior member of Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko’s group, Monday backed President Viktor Yushchenko’s plan for simultaneous early presidential and parliamentary elections, underscoring the emerging split within the group.

Tymoshenko on Friday flatly rejected the plan, but her support is crucial for its implementation. The split shows she has been facing pressure from her allies to accept the plan.

“I was surprised to hear that after the president had supported this idea, people that earlier backed it had now dropped their support,” Tomenko told Channel 5 television. “I am a person who had never rejected this idea.”

“All political groups in September declared their support for the idea,” Tomenko said. “The paradox of Ukrainian politics is that whenever an opponent backs the idea, [former] supporters reject it.”

Yushchenko on Friday suggested holding simultaneous presidential and parliamentary elections later this year as a way of resolving political deadlock in Ukraine.

Due to political infighting between parties, the government failed to approve a comprehensive program to battle severe economic crisis, forcing the International Monetary Fund to delay disbursements within $12.4 billion rescue loan approved in 2008.

“The head of the state believes that the crisis of Ukrainian politics calls for radical reshuffle of the all state institutions,” Iryna Vannikova, the spokeswoman for Yushchenko, said Monday. “The president is convinced that a compromise is a two-way street.”

“If this axiom is understood in Parliament, Ukraine will have a chance to cover the route of constitutional changes and to come close to building a political system of European standard,” Vannikova said.

Viktor Yanukovych, the leader of the opposition Regions Party, on Friday called Yushchenko’s plan a “courageous step” and said the parties must start urgent consultations to set the date of the elections.

As part of the plan, Yushchenko suggested amending parliamentary election legislation to enable candidates compete for parliamentary seats within each party, and canceling immunity currently enjoyed by lawmakers.

The developments come after Parliament had overwhelmingly voted last week to set the date for the next presidential election on October 25, about three months earlier than had been required by the constitution.

The Regions Party warned it will launch massive street protests unless the Tymoshenko government submits a comprehensive anti-crisis program for debate and approval by Parliament on April 14.

Tomenko said the vote over the program, which must enjoy support of Parliament, the president, the government and the opposition, will provide clues whether there will be the early elections.

“We have two alternatives: either all work for the country or all go for the elections,” Tomenko said. “We have one week for discussions.” (tl/ez)