Proposed Pact Shuns Pro-West President in Run-Up to Election

By James Marson

KIEV — Ukraine’s two leading political parties are in negotiations for an alliance that could isolate pro-Western President Viktor Yushchenko and fuel political tensions ahead of presidential elections set for January.

A parliamentary deputy from the opposition Party of the Regions, led by former prime minister Viktor Yanukovych, confirmed on Tuesday that it was in talks with Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko’s party on forming a new coalition. A representative for Bloc Yulia Tymoshenko, known as BYuT, wasn’t available for comment on the negotiations.

The deal would team Ms. Tymoshenko, an ally of Mr. Yushchenko during the 2004 Orange Revolution, with her bitter rival, pro-Russian Mr. Yanukovych. Such a coalition would be a boon for Moscow, which has enjoyed warmer relations with Ms. Tymoshenko of late, and a blow to Mr. Yushchenko, who has angered the Kremlin with attempts to integrate Ukraine into Western structures such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

The three have been engaged in a political battle since Mr. Yushchenko and Ms. Tymoshenko led mass protests against suspected election fraud after the presidential vote in 2004. Following the protests, the initial victory declared for Mr. Yanukovych, who received strong backing from Russia, was overturned and Mr. Yushchenko became president. Mr. Yushchenko’s Our Ukraine party is part of the current coalition with BYuT.

Ms. Tymoshenko and Mr. Yushchenko have fallen out, and squabbling among the three has intensified in the run-up to January’s presidential vote, hampering policy making as Ukraine is buffeted by the economic crisis.

Discussions between the Party of the Regions and BYuT on a new coalition agreement and constitutional change have been taking place for several months, but the call from Party of the Regions lawmaker Dmytro Tabachnyk in parliament on Tuesday to form a “grand coalition” is the first official indication that a deal may be close.

Local media quoted people close to the negotiations as saying agreement was close on a coalition, as well as on a new constitution under which parliament would elect the president.

Mr. Yushchenko said Tuesday that the reported plans to change the constitution were “an anticonstitutional conspiracy,” and that any such change should be decided by referendum.

Critics say the changes would represent a step back from the democratic achievements of the Orange Revolution.

Mr. Tabachnyk said Tuesday that an agreement between the two parties was essential to overcoming Ukraine’s economic and political instability. Ukraine’s economy has been rocked by the crisis. Gross domestic product contracted as much as 23% in the first quarter, according to Mr. Yushchenko, and the country has been relying on a $16.4 billion standby credit from the International Monetary Fund.

Disillusionment with the current political elite also has led to a surge in the popularity of alternative presidential candidates, such as former parliamentary speaker Arseniy Yatseniuk. Observers say Ms. Tymoshenko and Mr. Yanukovych are both worried they might lose the election, and those concerns are pushing them toward a coalition deal.

Both party leaders have remained silent about their possible alliance. Stumbling blocks to an agreement remain, none larger that the two sides’ distrust of each other.

(from the Wall Street Journal)