Tymoshenko: government will not resign

UKRINFORM's photo

The Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers will not tender resignation, because the parliamentary coalition did not split but just stopped functioning due to one of its member-blocs, Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko told a press conference Wednesday. She pointed out that "one of political forces unilaterally abandoned the coalition" that "actually did not split".

That is why "we will stay to work as a bulwark of peace and stability in Ukraine," she said.

Tymoshenko agreed that the coalition deal really had a provision on resignation of Parliament Speaker and Prime Minister in case of breakup. "But the coalition did not break. Just the President left it with a part of his team, after which the coalition agreement simply became invalid," the head of government stated.

The Prime Minister also expressed her idea of Arseniy Yatseniuk's Wednesday declaration on resignation from the Verkhovna Rada Chair's post. Particularly, she doubted the move saying any declarations are inopportune before ultimate clarification of all political positions.

"I trust facts more than declarations. I see the Verkhovna Rada Chairman in his seat, working quite efficiently," the Prime Minister indicated.

In his turn, First Deputy Head of the President's Secretariat Oleksandr Shlapak told the press Wednesday's resignation statement by Parliament Speaker Arseniy Yatseniuk has no legal aftereffects for the Cabinet of Ministers' work.

"I believe the Speaker was motivated by the coalition agreement he considered to be effective. Now let the Premier decide what to do," Shlapak said.

He reminded that the coalition agreement of the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc faction and the Our Ukraine - People's Self-Defense bloc faction read both the Parliament Speaker and the Prime Minister must resign with a split of the coalition. "The Speaker did it. As regards the head of government, we will live and see," says the President's representative to the Cabinet of Ministers.

Earlier, Justice Minister Mykola Onyschuk told reporters that dissolution of the parliamentary coalition does not entail immediate government resignation.

"From the formally legal viewpoint, invalidation of the coalition has no direct legal impact on the government. It continues working," the minister noted adding yet that each political force that formed the coalition may pass a faction decision to recall its ministers from the government.

The justice minister said the political council of Our Ukraine would meet on Saturday, and might cover the issue. "Ministers from both political forces that composed the coalition may abdicate, but it takes a faction decision," he emphasized.

Onyschuk stressed that resignation of Yatseniuk from the Parliament Speaker's post would not tell on the government's work.

As reported, Verkhovna Rada Chairman Arseniy Yatseniuk said at the parliament's plenary meeting on Wednesday that he had resigned. At the same time, he said he would remain on the post until the parliament takes a respective decision.

Yatseniuk said he had come to parliament "exclusively under the slogan of democratic values and democratic ideals", adding one should come to power and leave it with dignity.

UKRINFORM