Ukraine's one-time 'Orange Revolution' allies reunite

Ukraine's one-time "Orange Revolution" allies said yesterday they had reunited in opposition and called for early parliamentary elections.

The development comes amid a growing standoff between the increasingly sidelined pro-Western president and Ukraine's powerful Russian-leaning prime minister.

President Viktor Yushchenko's party Our Ukraine and the party of opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko signed an agreement late on Monday on creating a joint opposition force in parliament, a statement said yesterday.

The parties called for early elections and the canceling of constitutional changes weakening the powers of the presidency.

"We and Tymoshenko's party agreed over a range of issues regarding the future of the country. We understand that political chaos and disorder initiated by the governing coalition can be stopped only through early elections," said Vycheslav Kyrylenko, head of Our Ukraine in parliament.

However, analysts say the two parties do not have enough votes in parliament to force through their intiatives.

Our Ukraine and the Tymoshenko bloc were allies during the "Orange Revolution" protests which ushered pro-Western Yushchenko into power in early 2005, but the following year their team collapsed due to infighting.

After parliamentary elections last March, they tried and failed to form a governing coalition, opening the way to power for their political rival, Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych.

Since Yanukovych became prime minister, he has suspended the president's goal of NATO membership, expressed interest in joining a Russian-led ex-Soviet trade bloc and responded favorably to Moscow's proposals for joint ownership of Ukraine's gas transit pipeline network.

In the struggle with Yushchenko, Yanukovych appears to have the stronger hand, particularly after a new law on the cabinet of ministers, which weakens the powers of presidency, came into force last week.

Under the law Yushchenko sees his right to appoint the foreign and defense ministers limited, and his influence over regional leaders weakened.

The law also gives legislators the right to appoint the premier without the president's approval if the president does not approve parliament's nominee within 15 days.

Yushchenko complained that it gives more authority to Yanukovych and appealed against the law to the Constitutional Court.

Analysts predicts a sharpening of the struggle between the two top figures in the country would continue, noting that it would not be in favor of Yushchenko.

Source: China Daily/Agencies