Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has asked Verkhovna Rada Speaker Oleksandr Turchynov to urgently arrange a parliamentary debate concerning the possible resignation of Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk.
“Given the broad public outcry provoked by Prime Minister Yatsenyuk’s
statement on his resignation, made on July 24, 2014, I am asking you to
put this issue up for debate in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine as soon
as possible,” Poroshenko said in an official letter to Turchynov on
Thursday evening, July 24.
However, the cabinet led by Yatsenyuk should continue to fulfill its duties, the president said.
“Hopefully, these hot emotions will subside and common sense and the
feeling of responsibility will prevail, as a result of which the whole
Cabinet of Ministers will be able to continue its work,” he said.
The Verkhovna Rada should decide on Friday, July 25 whether it will hold a
vote to reaffirm its confidence in the cabinet, Poroshenko said.
“The collapse of the Verkhovna Rada coalition does not offer any
legal grounds to dismiss the government. I, as president, positively
assess the anti-crisis efforts of the current Cabinet of Ministers,” he
said.
“I reiterate the need to urgently revisit proposed amendments to the
state budget and the Tax Code on July 25 as well. We need these
amendments in order to protect our territory integrity, fund the army,
restore the territories liberated from the terrorists and extend
assistance to the civilian population of all affected cities and
villages,” the president said.
Yatsenyuk announced his resignation in the Verkhovna Rada on
Thursday. “I announce my resignation due to the coalition breakup and
blocking of governmental initiatives,” Yatsenyuk said.
In case a coalition is not formed and the existing coalition has dissolved, the government should resign, Yatsenyuk stressed.
Earlier on Thursday the UDAR, Svoboda (Freedom) factions, and a
number of Batkivschyna faction members announced they leave the European
Choice coalition in the Verkhovna Rada.
The disbandment of the coalition and failure to form a new one within
30 days will give reason for the president to disband the parliament
and call early elections.
The European Choice coalition was set up on Feb. 27, 2014. It
included 250 deputies. The coalition was formed by the Batkivschyna,
UDAR, Svoboda and Economic Development factions, the Sovereign European
Ukraine group and other parliamentarians.
Currently, the UDAR faction consists of 41 members, Svoboda 35,
Batkivschyna 86, Economic Development 41 and the Sovereign European
Ukraine 35 parliamentarians. Also, there are 86 members in the Party of
Regions faction, 23 in the Communist faction disbanded on Thursday, and
34 in the For Peace and Stability group. By this morning 72 deputies
were not members of any group or faction.
The coalition must include at least 226 parliamentarians.
