The faction of the Batkivschyna United Opposition in the Verkhovna Rada of the seventh convocation will not participate in the vote on the election of Ukraine's speaker and prime minister.
“It has been decided that we will not vote for the premier’s candidacy and the speaker’s candidacy,” newly elected MP Andriy Shevchenko told Interfax-Ukraine after a faction meeting on Tuesday.
He also said that the faction was not planning to nominate its candidates for vice speakers.
“If there’s a package vote, we won’t participate in it,” Shevchenko said.
In addition, the political council of the Batkivschyna United Opposition was formed at the meeting. It includes Arseniy Yatseniuk, his seven deputies, the leaders of all parties that were included in the United Opposition (Anatoliy Hrytsenko, Iryna Lutsenko, Mykola Katerynchuk), as well as MPs Andriy Kozhemiakin, Mykola Martynenko, Ivan Kyrylenko, and Mykola Tomenko.
“It was also noted at the meeting that Yulia Tymoshenko, who was nominated for president, remains the opposition leader,” Shevchenko said.
The new parliament will begin its work on December 12.
