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Ex-PM Tymoshenko says coalition formed in Ukraine's parliament

Iran Materials 22 June 2006 14:26 (UTC +04:00)

(RIA Novosti) - Ukrainian political parties have formed a majority coalition needed for the country's parliament to start work, the leader of one of the parties involved said Thursday.

The coalition deal between the "orange" parties that swept Viktor Yushchenko to the presidency in 2003 puts an end to parliamentary limbo that has paralyzed the former Soviet republic following indecisive March 26 elections, reports Trend.

"The document [with lawmakers' signatures] has been handed to [the Rada's] secretariat," said Yulia Tymoshenko, who leads an eponymous bloc and is a former prime minister.

Under Ukrainian law, a coalition agreement has to be signed by more than half the MPs in the 450-seat legislature - the Supreme Rada. A total of 242 members of the Tymoshenko bloc (129 seats), pro-presidential Our Ukraine (81) and the Socialist Party (33) have put their signatures to the deal, which has ended disagreements over distribution of portfolios and the country's socioeconomic future.

Under the agreement, Tymoshenko will be appointed new prime minister, and Petro Poroshenko, former Security Council secretary and member of Our Ukraine, will become parliamentary speaker.

In the March elections, five parties made it to parliament - the pro-Russia Party of Regions (186 seats) led by Yushchenko's rival in the 2004 presidential race, Viktor Yanukovych, the three "orange" parties, and the Communists (21 seats).

The coalition has also formed a new government, which is to be approved by the president.

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