UKRAINE: Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko keeps options on coalition; last day of campaigning ahead of crucial elections

Record ID: 346959

  • Title: UKRAINE: Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko keeps options on coalition; last day of campaigning ahead of crucial elections
  • Date: 25th March 2006
  • Summary: YURIY YEKHANUROV SEATED IN INTERVIEW OUR UKRAINE PARTY FLAG (SOUNDBITE) (UKrainian) UKRAINIAN PRIME MINISTER YURIY YEKHANUROV, SAYING: "We consulted other political forces that were a part of the Orange bloc and now we want to renew the Orange coalition. As for the Regions Party, this option has not been examined." CUTAWAY (SOUNDBITE) (UKrainian) UKRAINIAN PRIME MINIST
  • Embargoed: 9th April 2006 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Ukraine
  • Country: Ukraine
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAE07LLFL5W7Z2BVKEEBUSY3IGN
  • Story Text: Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko kept all his options open on Friday (March 24) about what sort of coalition he expected after crucial elections this weekend that may compel him reluctantly to team up with old foes.
    Surveys show that, after Sunday's (March 26) election for a parliament endowed with new powers to choose a prime minister, Yushchenko may face uncomfortable choices for coalition partners.
    The party of Yushchenko's old Russia-backed nemesis, Viktor Yanukovich, with whom he clashed in the heady days of the "Orange Revolution" in December 2004, looks likely to gather the biggest slice of the popular vote.
    The bloc of Yulia Tymoshenko, Yushchenko's estranged ally from the "Orange Revolution" whom he sacked as prime minister last year, lies third behind the pro-presidential Our Ukraine party.
    While a marriage of convenience between Yushchenko's party and Yanukovich's Regions Party -- unthinkable a year ago -- could be on the cards, some analysts say Yushchenko and Tymoshenko could still paper over their differences and get together again.
    Yushchenko himself gave little away on Friday in a speech to his people on the last day of campaigning.
    "A future coalition should be united around strategic objectives and not egoistical desires. The basis of a coalition must be a common vision, and search for solutions to the country's most difficult problems," he said in a televised speech to the nation on Friday night.
    His reference to "egoistic desires" was a swipe at Tymoshenko who, while continuing to hold out an olive branch to Yushchenko publicly, is insisting she get her job of premier back.
    At the same time, Yushchenko fired a direct salvo at Yanukovich, harking back to the "Orange Revolution".
    "It is sad that those who falsified the elections only yesterday and humiliated our citizens are today shouting about a comeback. But I believe in the wisdom of the Ukrainian people. I believe that on March 26 we will vote together for the future," he said.
    Weeks, perhaps months, of back-room bargaining and manoeuvring lie ahead to form a viable coalition.
    Yushchenko's cachet as the leader of the Orange Revolution that turfed out the Russian-backed establishment and set the country's sights on integrating into the European mainstream has been tarnished by a spluttering economy, allegations of corruption and infighting with Tymoshenko.
    Yanukovich, back as a big player again after his humiliation in 2004 in the re-run election, has not commented publicly on a possible Orange-Blue governing combination.
    However, he has not ruled anything out, either. Earlier this week, he told Reuters his party was in contact with some allies of the president "who share our views on building our country".
    Speaking to a 5,000-strong crowd in central Kiev on Friday night, he said: "We will never see such an irresponsible government as what we had in 2005. We must together do everything so that stability prevails as soon as possible. This is our common dream."
    Tymoshenko, a charismatic figure with a sharp tongue, told Yushchenko he would be making a "final mistake" if he threw his hand in with a coalition with Yanukovich.

    ELECTION CAMPAIGNS POLITICAL PARTIES POLITICIANS
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