Ukraine's pro-Western coalition has collapsed, the parliament speaker announced Tuesday, paving the way for complicated coalition talks or another pre-term parliamentary election.
The 9-month-old alliance composed of parties loyal to President Viktor Yushchenko and his 2004 Orange Revolution partner Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko fell apart amid infighting between the two leaders. They have become fierce rivals ahead of the 2010 presidential election.
The parliament now has 30 days to either form a new coalition or a fresh election will be called. That would be the third parliamentary vote in as many years. Both leaders have campaigned on hopes for quick reform and integration with the West.
"I officially announce the termination of the democratic coalition in the Verkhovna Rada," speaker Arseniy Yatsenyuk told lawmakers referring to the Ukrainian legislature. "It is yet another democratic challenge, but I hope that together we will overcome this challenge."
Yushchenko and Tymoshenko have engaged in a tug-of-war since she regained premiership in December, accusing each other of corruption and incompetence and blocking each other's policies. The final straw came as Yushchenko accused Tymoshenko of acting in the Kremlin's favor by failing to condemn Russia's war with Georgia. Tymoshenko fired back by saying that Yushchenko's overwhelming support of Georgia drags Ukraine into the conflict.
Tymoshenko then teamed up with the Russia-friendly opposition to adopt a law that trims presidential powers and boosts her own. Yushchenko called that a coup attempt and his party pulled out of the coalition. Some analysts predict that a new governing coalition may involve the Russia-leaning Party of Regions. |
