Baloha may find his way to Party of Regions election roster – Taras Chornovil

There are several reasons for Yatseniuk’s dismissal that are widely discussed by Rada insiders. Some say Yatseniuk’s efforts to reach truce in VR and thus eliminate the probability of any dissolution of VR didn’t sit well with Pres Yushchenko. The incumbent may have suspected the speaker of cooperation with BYUT – and decided to wash his hands off Yatseniuk. Not to implicate himself, Yushchenko used the Baloha-led breakaway group of NUNS lawmakers. “This is a typical style of the president: to dump his insiders. He knows well how to do it,” Taras Chornovil revealed.

In another scenario, Yushchenko may have realized that it would be stupid to run for president with his meager rating and it was time for him to look for someone who can defeat Tymoshenko. Yatseniuk can well be the person.

“I do not exclude an open conflict between Yushchenko and Baloha, with Baloha sliding towards the Party of Regions. The rumor is thick that Baloha may find his way to the Regions election roster,” Chornovil added.

“It was clear, however, that Yatseniuk didn’t mind to face the vote of no confidence,” the lawmaker noted.

Answering a question from ZIK whether Yatseniuk will now join BYUT, Taras Chornovil replied: “Yatseniuk wants to play his own game. He is loath to join BYUT where he will be made to bow and tow the party line in the same way as in the PR.”

If Yulia Tymoshenko tries to woo Yatseniuk now, she will have her hands tied to lambast the former speaker, one of the likely runners and her rival in the presidential race.