Ukrainian Prime Minister Resigns as Government Collapses
Ukraine's troubles continue with the dissolution of the coalition government. Although the decision is a sound political tactic, it will cause disruptions for the country as it attempts to regain control of rebel-held areas.
The Ukrainian government fell apart after two parties left the ruling coalition, according to Deutsche Welle. The Udar Party of former boxer Vitali Klitschko and the radical nationalist Svodoba Party both left the coalition government first, forcing early parliamentary elections.
By leaving the coalition, the Fatherland Party of Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk did not have the majority of seats in parliament to form a government. Deutsche Welle reports that the party and President Petro Poroshenko welcome the new elections, viewing them as an opportunity to rid the government of pro-Russian members.
However, due to the coalition's dissolution, Prime Minister Yatsenyuk decided to resign, according to Reuters, further throwing the country in disarray.
"History will not forgive us," he told parliament. "Millions of people made this revolution. We did not take the European choice but the 'heavenly hundred' and thousands of other Ukrainians did," invoking those dead during the overthrow of the pro-Russia government.
Reuters explains that Yatsenyuk will not leave government until a new government is elected or new coalition is formed. However, frustration remains with the slow pace of government reform at its higher levels.
President Poroshenko welcomed the coalition's end and new elections, according to the Wall Street Journal. Many in Ukraine wish for a different government: the current parliament is a holdover from the pro-Russian government. In the new elections it is expected that pro-Russian parties "might not cross the 5% threshold necessary for a parliamentary presence for the first time in Ukraine's 23 years of independence."
The government has 30 days to form a new coalition or President Poroshenko will have the authority to dissolve parliament and call for new elections, according to the Journal.
The current parliament has been blamed for not passing new laws that would break Ukraine's dependence on Russian energy and allowing for state money to pay for Ukraine's military, the Journal reports. Although the military has advanced against the rebels, it will need to regain all their territory for a legitimate nationwide election.
The military, according to the Washington Post, is running out of money. Finance Minister Oleksandr Shlapak told parliament on Thursday that as of Aug. 1, the government will not have funds to pay the armed forces. He asked for parliament to increase tax revenue. Without the army, the government could lose control of eastern Ukraine again.
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