Ukraine's ruling coalition falls apart
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Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko's ruling coalition had collapsed after losing its majority in the Ukrainian parliament, speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn said Tuesday.
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Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko leaves the court room after speaking in the Higher Administrative Court in central Kiev, February 20, 2010. Tymoshenko on Saturday dropped her legal case challenging the election of President-elect Viktor Yanukovich, saying the court could not be trusted to bring in a fair verdict. [Xinhua/AFP Photo] |
"As of today, there is no coalition in parliament. Therefore I announce that the coalition has ceased to exist," Lytvyn said.
The announcement gave President Viktor Yanukovych, who narrowly won a run-off presidential election against Tymoshenko last month, a chance to form his own coalition or call a snap election.
The Ukrainian parliament is due to hold a no-confidence vote on Tymoshenko's government on Wednesday.
According to the constitution, Ukraine's political leaders have 30 days to form a new coalition. If they fail, Yanukovych can exercise his right to dissolve the parliament and call early legislative elections.
