You're reading: Business New Europe: Ukraine’s pugilistic democracy

 After a four-week hiatus during which Ukraine's feisty opposition blocked the workings of parliament in protest at President Viktor Yanukovych's heavy-handed policymaking, the Rada resumed work in the middle of March – and opened with a full-scale brawl between deputies. The opposition had been blocking parliament's work as part of a demand to introduce personal voting as opposed to the current bloc voting by factions, which would have the effect of increasing the opposition's sway. The blockade had to be broken for one day because if the assembly doesn't meet for 30 days, the president has the option of dissolving it under Ukraine's constitution – and no one wants that at the moment. 

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