KIEV, July 24 (RIA Novosti) - Ukraine's first deputy speaker said Monday parliament had all legal grounds to appoint a new prime minister without the president's consent if the head of state failed to decide on the candidacy on time.
The parliamentary coalition led by the pro-Russia Party of Regions submitted the candidacy of its leader, Viktor Yanukovych, to President Viktor Yushchenko July 18. The president must decide on the potential prime minister within 15 days.
But Adam Martynyuk, first deputy speaker of parliament, said the deadline had been introduced constitutionally to prevent the president from using any delaying tactics.
"The Supreme Rada has every legal reason to find a positive resolution to the question," he said.
The opposition Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc has been pushing the president to choose the alternative available under the law: to reject Yanukovych's candidacy, dissolve parliament and call new elections.
