Tymoshenko bloc and Socialists unite into parliamentary coalition (05/28/06)

Tymoshenko bloc and Socialists unite into parliamentary coalition

by Zenon Zawada
Kyiv Press Bureau

KYIV - In the latest public relations gambit in forming Ukraine's parliamentary majority, Yulia Tymoshenko and Oleksander Moroz announced on May 25 that they have united their political forces to form a coalition.

Ms. Tymoshenko and Mr. Moroz held a document that they said paraphrases the agreement that will be signed by the three Orange political forces in Parliament, including the Our Ukraine bloc.

Without Our Ukraine however, the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc and the Socialist Party of Ukraine don't have enough votes to form a majority.

"Without a doubt, that was a PR step to show how they're ready to work together while Our Ukraine is stalling the process," said Serhii Taran, director of the Institute of Mass Information in Kyiv.

Furthermore, the Tymoshenko-Moroz document consisted of no specific plan of action or program, Dr. Taran said.

The failure of the Orange forces to unite spilled into the first session of the fifth convocation of the Verkhovna Rada on May 25.

Deputies from Our Ukraine, the Tymoshenko Bloc and the Socialist Party voted to close the session early and postpone the Rada's next meeting until June 7.

Expect further cancellations and delays throughout the summer, said Oles Donii, chair of the Kyiv-based Center for Political Values Research, which is supported by Ukrainian citizens and is seeking international financing.

An Orange coalition will eventually emerge, Mr. Donii said, and the coalition will approve of a new Rada chairman.

However, Mr. Donii said he doesn't expect the coalition will approve Ms. Tymoshenko as prime minister because Our Ukraine deputies are against such a plan.

The outcome will be an acting Cabinet, led by acting Prime Minister Yurii Yekhanurov, Mr. Donii said. Such an acting government can operate for months, if not years, he said.

While the Orange forces bicker, the Party of the Regions is building an image as a political force that is serious and ready to conduct business, Mr. Donii said.

Nina Kriukova opened the Verkhovna Rada's first session with an impassioned rendition of "Liubit Ukrayinu" (Love Ukraine), the poem written by Volodymyr Sosiura.

Deputies also took part in singing the Ukrainian religious hymn "Bozhe Velykyi, Yedynyi," written by Oleksander Konyskyi.

As much as the new deputies were urged to pray and love Ukraine, the session got nasty fairly quickly - a sign that some things may never change in the Rada.

When the Orange forces proposed to end the session, about 60 deputies of the Party of the Regions and the Communist Party rushed the podium and blocked it in an attempt to prevent such a vote.

Party of the Regions National Deputy Yaroslav Sukhyi attacked the idea as destructive for Ukraine. "You've been creating this coalition for enough time already," he said. "Even children know that you're creating it. Why are you dragging us into it?"

Then Mr. Sukhyi placed his extended index finger on his head, an insulting gesture that indicates someone is stupid.

"Your gesture towards your temple is inappropriate," said Ivan Bokyi, a Socialist Party national deputy.

Despite the attempted blockade, 240 deputies out of the 445 present voted in favor of canceling the session.

"The Parliament isn't working because the coalition can't decide on a prime minister," Mr. Donii said. "As a result, the Party of the Regions looks as though it wants to work, while the Orange forces don't."

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