Speaker Yatseniuk announces ruling coalition break-up

“Today we are turning down one page in Ukraine’s history and opening a new one. I wouldn’t call it a political apocalypses. Yes, it’s another challenge to democracy, but, hopefully, we’ll jointly be able to deal with it. It [the coalition collapse] was not due to outside pressure on the coalition, it was due to the inaptitude of its members” A. Yatseniuk added.

As stressed by the speaker, the responsibility [for legislative work] continues to rest on Verkhovna Rada’s shoulders.

“The Ukrainian parliament is legal and must continue to perform its basic function of passing new laws,” he said.

He also emphasized that, in line with the Constitution, only the speaker can sign new legislation.

“If, following my announcement about the collapse of the ruling coalition, members have proposals to elect a new speaker, I suggest we get down to it at once. If there are no such proposals, let me know officially,” Yatseniuk said.

Although Ukraine’s political agenda is complex and challenging, we should not forget about our urgent economic problems, the speaker added, specifying such problems as the absence of a gas supply contract with Russia for 2009, the need to approve consolidated changes in the 2008 budget, very hazy prospects for the 2009 budget, pressing social and economic programs, and the largest outflow of foreign investments among the countries of Eastern Europe.