Ukraine political chaos intensifies, parliament speaker sacked

UkrainKiev- Political chaos in Ukraine intensified on Wednesday with
parliament sacking speaker Arseny Yatseniuk but failing to name a
replacement.

An alliance of pro-Russia, pro-Europe, and independent MPs
assembled a 233-vote majority in the 450-seat house, to give the
pro-Europe Yatseniuk his walking papers.

Yatseniuk, a former ally of President Viktor Yushchenko, called the
legislature's decision proof that "Democracy in Ukraine, as it was
before, remains under threat."

Yushchenko since last month has been locked in a battle with both
Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, and a splintered parliament, over the
timing of early elections, and legislative measures necessary to deal
with a weakening economy.

Yatseniuk's outspoken opposition to some Yushchenko-proposed
measures spelled the difference in the confidence vote, leading a swing
group of MPs loyal to Yushchenko to support Yatseniuk's sacking.

The decision left Ukraine's fractious parliament without a speaker
and facing a painful nomination process for a replacement, a situation
likely to hamstring efforts to pass legislation needed to control
domestic damage from the world financial crisis, observers said.

The international economic downturn has sideswiped Ukraine's
once-thriving economy, with major industrial indicators in the former
Soviet republic down some 40 to 60 per cent as compared to 2007. The
value of the stock market and the national currency has plummeted, with
a simultaneous spike in unemployment and inflation.

Yushchenko in September called for new elections in an attempt to
reshuffle a parliament whose factions had been unable, for months, to
agree on legislation to deal with the crisis.

But parliament unwillingness to approve financing for the vote,
tentatively scheduled for December 15, has left Ukraine's executive
branch technically unable to run elections ordered by the President.

Yatsenkiuk, 38, and a Yushchenko apointee, had in recent weeks
openly been calling for an overhaul of Ukraine's pro-Europe political
parties, and had implied the Orange Revolution leader Yushchenko - now
highly unpopular in Ukraine - should take a back seat to a new
generation of reform politicians.

Yushchenko in Wenesday remarks to the Interfax news agency admitted
elections might take place no earlier than early 2009, but had no
direct comments on Yatseniuk's removal from office.

Tymoshenko, like Yatseniuk a former Yushchenko ally, at Kiev press
conference laid blame for Yatseniuk's sacking, and the deepening of
Ukraine's political crisis, directly at the President's doorstep,
saying "this (Yatseniuk's ouster) could not have taken place without
Yushchenko's orders, it is clear to all politicians what has happened
here." (dpa)

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