The Bloc of Yulia Tymoshenko's press office said the draft envisaged a coalition with President Viktor Yushchenko's Our Ukraine party and the Socialist Party of Ukraine and that it compelled each of its prospective members to abstain from teaming up with the Party of Regions, led by Viktor Yanukovych, Yushchenko's opponent in the 2004 election, when the incumbent president had been swept into power on the back of "Orange revolution" protests.
"I'm ready to give public assurances that [as long as] I'm involved, no such coalition [with the Regions Party] will ever be formed; no circumstances will make me [ally with the party]. I'd like both Yushchenko and [Socialist Party leader Oleksander] Moroz to sign up for this commitment, as well," the press office quoted Tymoshenko as saying.
Tymoshenko also proposed that the privilege of nominating a prime minister be given to the pro-revolution party that would win the largest number of seats in parliament.
Under Ukraine's new constitution, which came into effect January 1, parliament enjoys broader authority, including the power to appoint the cabinet and the prime minister.
