UKRAINE: Ukrainian opposition leaders repeat their call for snap elections at a mass rally in Kiev

Record ID: 214166

  • Title: UKRAINE: Ukrainian opposition leaders repeat their call for snap elections at a mass rally in Kiev
  • Date: 9th February 2014
  • Summary: PROTESTERS TAKING THEIR HATS OFF AT START OF NATIONAL ANTHEM ON STAGE, KLITSCHKO, YATSENYUK AND OTHERS SINGING NATIONAL ANTHEM RADICAL PROTESTERS SINGING NATIONAL ANTHEM
  • Embargoed: 24th February 2014 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Ukraine
  • Country: Ukraine
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVADRNF33YKHXPNLTU787G973Y0J
  • Story Text: Protest leaders in Ukraine repeated their call for snap elections on Sunday (February 9) during a weekly mass rally that has filled Kiev's Independence square with protesters every sunday for weeks.
    The ex-Soviet republic is in the grip of political deadlock that began when Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich turned down in November a free trade pact with the European Union under Russian pressure.
    The opposition rejects the current constitution which they say give too much power to Yanukovich. They want to return to the 2004 constitution which would curb presidential powers and give parliament greater control over the formation of governments.
    Ultimately, though, opposition leaders want the departure of Yanukovich.
    Opposition leader Vitaly Klitschko told thousands of protesters: "He (Yanukovich) says we need half a year to get a new constitution. But our people are not going to wait for half a year. We can change the constitution now, go back to the 2004 constitution first and then take time to draft a new constitution. But this in itself is not enough. People demand one thing - snap presidential elections," boxer-turned-politician Klitschko told the crowd.

    "A new constitution. A new president. A new government. A new country. This is what we want and we will prevail. Glory to Ukraine," another opposition leader, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, said.
    But fresh elections could backfire. An opinion survey released at the end of January showed Yanukovich and his party topping polls with about 20 percent support in Ukraine's fragmented political system.
    Yanukovich sacked last week his prime minister, a pro-Russian loyalist, in a concession to demonstrators. He offered the prime minister job and some ministerial positions to opposition leaders, only to be faced with their refusal.
    On Sunday, Ukraine's state security service placed anti-terrorist units on alert in response to a sharp rise in unspecified threats against sensitive installations including atomic power stations, airports and gas and oil pipelines.
    The new security measures were to be applied to the blocking of approaches to state buildings as well as calls to seize installations where weapons are stored - potentially targeting some of the radical protesters who have been in violent clashes with police.
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