On Nov. 23, after six months of political confrontations, the Verkhovna Rada finally started functioning. Although we never saw an Orange coalition or a new speaker, Nov. 23 turned out to be a purely ritual day, with the MPs forming factions, electing the presidium, determining media coverage procedures, and, of course, setting off a scandal, something our parliament simply cannot do without.
In the morning there was a festive atmosphere, with MPs greeting and embracing each other. The BYuT faction members came dressed in white, as expected, which is why it looked as though their numbers were the greatest. The Day’s reporter witnessed a young woman (a journalist or assistant to an MP) ask Nestor Shufrych to take a picture of her with BYuT’s Andrii Shkil. Shufrych did as asked, without comment, and took a picture of his ideological opponent with the parliamentary beauty. However, this harmony proved short-lived.
After a recess Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych announced that the current cabinet was resigning. The Our Ukraine-People’s Self-Defense and BYuT factions met his announcement with applause. Raisa Bohatyriova spoke on behalf of the Party of Regions’ leader: “Such emotions are understandable, considering the good performance shown by this government that has worked for our country’s international image as an economically advanced one. We wish to thank Viktor Yanukovych’s government for its fruitful work.”
Oleksandr Moroz was the next to take the floor and that was where the parliamentary idyll ended. The ex-speaker once again declared that the early elections were an escapade and that President Viktor Yushchenko should assume full responsibility: “Our country will be able to return to its normal course of democratic progress after President Yushchenko is removed from office by his people.” This statement was followed by catcalls from the Our Ukraine- People’s Self-Defense and BYuT factions, whereupon they marched out of the hall. Mykola Katerynchuk was outraged: “By and large, Moroz is trying to discredit the political process by using the Parliamentary Speaker’s podium to make his own political statements.”
But this was just the starter. Toward the end Bohatyriova caused an uproar when she adjourned the session until Thursday without voting on the issue. Roman Zvarych, the Our Ukraine-People’s Self-Defense representative on the ad hoc presidium, immediately declared that he would preside over the next session on Tuesday. According to the Parliamentary Standing Orders, Zvarych is next in line, after the Party of Regions’ official on the ad hoc presidium, to preside over a session of parliament to elect the speaker of the Ukrainian parliament.
Yulia Tymoshenko is not planning to waste any time either: “Our faction will come to parliament on Tuesday. I hope that Our Ukraine will also be there, so we will have 228 votes, enough to pass decisions.” She added that she is “100 percent sure that a democratic coalition will be created.”
However, at press time, eight parliamentarians from Our Ukraine-People’s Self-Defense had failed to sign the democratic coalition agreement. The following are the names of these “principled” individuals: Stanislav Dovhy, Yurii Yekhanurov, Ihor Kril, Mykola Onyshchuk, Ihor Palytsia, Vasyl Petevka, Ivan Pliushch, and Viktor Topolev. In other words, Ukrainians are in for another coalition intrigue.
