KYIV, Ukraine—The Ukrainian Parliament quickly produced a new ruling coalition under President Victor Yanukovych on Thursday, but many are criticizing the new government as illegal.
The President’s Party of Regions faction, formed the coalition with the support of two other factions—the communists and a block under parliamentary Speaker Vladimir Litvyn—plus individual deputies.
Until this week, only party factions could join together to form a ruling coalition. On Tuesday, however, Yanukovych’s group passed a constitutional amendment making it possible for individual deputies to leave their parties and join coalitions as individuals.
Many lawmakers have criticized the move calling it a “constitutional coup.” The president’s faction disagrees that they’ve done anything illegal, claiming that the changes were necessary to ensure a functioning state as soon as possible.
The legality of the amendment, and thus of the new government, is pending a decision by the constitutional court.
In Thursday’s massive parliamentary overhaul, all previous ministers lost their posts, being replaced by Yanukovych’s allies.
The former ruling coalition, lead by Yulia Tymoshenko, who narrowly lost the presidential election to Yanukovych, announced they will function as the opposition but refused to recognize the legitimacy of new ruling coalition. The former ruling parties have also decided not to stand alone, rather bind together as a coalition.
“We have to re-elect the Parliament. Because the authorities cannot work illegally,” said Tymoshenko at a press conference on Tuesday.
“The activities of the future government have failed from the start because there will be big doubts about the legitimacy of the coalition and as a result, of the new government,” said Vyacheslav Kirilenko, a member of the Our Ukraine and People’s Self-defense faction, reported UNIAN news agency.
“Such state institutions will not be able to make economic and social reform,” he said.
The President’s Party of Regions faction, formed the coalition with the support of two other factions—the communists and a block under parliamentary Speaker Vladimir Litvyn—plus individual deputies.
Until this week, only party factions could join together to form a ruling coalition. On Tuesday, however, Yanukovych’s group passed a constitutional amendment making it possible for individual deputies to leave their parties and join coalitions as individuals.
Many lawmakers have criticized the move calling it a “constitutional coup.” The president’s faction disagrees that they’ve done anything illegal, claiming that the changes were necessary to ensure a functioning state as soon as possible.
The legality of the amendment, and thus of the new government, is pending a decision by the constitutional court.
In Thursday’s massive parliamentary overhaul, all previous ministers lost their posts, being replaced by Yanukovych’s allies.
The former ruling coalition, lead by Yulia Tymoshenko, who narrowly lost the presidential election to Yanukovych, announced they will function as the opposition but refused to recognize the legitimacy of new ruling coalition. The former ruling parties have also decided not to stand alone, rather bind together as a coalition.
“We have to re-elect the Parliament. Because the authorities cannot work illegally,” said Tymoshenko at a press conference on Tuesday.
“The activities of the future government have failed from the start because there will be big doubts about the legitimacy of the coalition and as a result, of the new government,” said Vyacheslav Kirilenko, a member of the Our Ukraine and People’s Self-defense faction, reported UNIAN news agency.
“Such state institutions will not be able to make economic and social reform,” he said.
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