Tymoshenko's Bloc to move into opposition before Ukrainian coalition formed
03/03/201017:38
KIEV, March 3 (RIA Novosti) - Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko's Bloc will move into the opposition party without waiting until a new parliamentary majority is formed, the bloc's deputy head said on Wednesday.
The Ukrainian parliament dismissed on Wednesday the government led by Yulia Tymoshenko. Altogether 243 members of the 450-seat legislature voted for the dismissal of Tymoshenko's government, improving the chances of President Viktor Yanukovych's Party of Regions to create the parliamentary majority he needs to push through his policies.
"We have decided to move into the opposition without waiting for a new Supreme Rada coalition formation," Andriy Shkil said.
Shkil said the decision was made Wednesday during the Bloc's meeting where Yulia Tymoshenko participated. The Bloc also discussed its activities as the opposition.
Tymoshenko lost the February 7 presidential runoff vote, securing 3.5% less than her bitter rival Yanukovych, who was sworn in as president on February 25.
Yanukovych, whose power base is in the mainly Russian-speaking eastern and southern industrial parts of the country, was elected on the back of promises to improve the economic and social situation in Ukraine, badly hit by the global economic crisis. He also promised a more balanced foreign policy course, which would ensure good relations with both Russia and the West.
Just hours before adopting the parliamentary resolution, his allies renewed attacks on Tymoshenko, accusing her cabinet of reckless decisions which had harmed the national economy.
Wednesday's vote, in which Yanukovych's 172 members of parliament were backed by seven "defectors" from Tymoshenko's party and 15 members of the party led by former President Viktor Yushchenko, showed the new leader and his allies, including communists and a group led by Rada Chairman Volodymyr Lytvyn, have a good chance of building a new coalition.
However, experts have predicted that Yanukovych will have a hard time handling any coalition of political rivals. They say he will have to compromise on some key issues, including the nomination of a new prime minister.
