Roman Olearchyk writes: Lawmakers backing Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych stepped up efforts on Wednesday to boost their leader’s presidential authority, apparently in fear of voter reaction that could follow unpopular austerity and reform measures, including a 50 percent increase on household natural gas prices. But Yanukovych could face an uphill challenge in convincing oligarch businessmen and ideologues in parliament to give up their power by changing Ukraine back to a presidential system of government from a parliamentary one. “Some oligarch businessmen who are closely backing Yanukovich and managing him will support a return to presidential rule, but others further away from the inner circle will not. The biggest intrigue is which side will win. It looks 50/50 now,” political analyst Vadym Karasiov said.
