(RIA Novosti) - Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko announced early Thursday his decision to nominate leader of the pro-Russian Party of Regions Viktor Yanukovych for the post of prime minister.
Yanukovych's candidacy is backed by a parliamentary majority comprising the Party of Regions, the Socialist Party, and the Communists, formed after the Socialists defected from the former "orange" majority, led by former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko's eponymous bloc, reports Trend.
"I decided to nominate Yanukovych as prime minister," the president said after consultations with Yanukovych and parliamentary speaker Oleksandr Moroz.
Yushchenko also said that he was not going to dissolve the parliament and the national unity agreement would be officially signed Thursday morning.