Government collapse
March 2, 2010
Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko's ruling coalition lost a parliamentary majority on Tuesday and faces a vote of no confidence.
Assembly speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn said leaders of parliamentary factions had met and switched allegiances, meaning coalition parties did not have enough signatures to maintain a majority. Parliament will hold a vote of no confidence in her government on Wednesday.
According to Ukraine's constitution, political leaders now have 30 days to form a new coalition, giving new President Viktor Yanukovych the chance to consolidate his power.
If a coalition cannot be formed by then, Yanukovych has the right to dissolve parliament and call early legislative elections, leading to further months of uncertainty.
Tymoshenko lost a bitterly contested run-off election to Yanukovych last month but had until now controlled the government at the head of a three-party coalition.
cmk/AFP/Reuters
Editor: Rob Turner