Under amendments to the Ukrainian Constitution that came into force in January, the government and parliament assumed a number of the president's former powers. The amendments expanded the authorities of the Supreme Rada as the president lost the right to appoint and dismiss Cabinet members and regional governors among other points.
The president in the ex-communist nation has the right to submit to parliament a candidacy for the post of prime minister proposed by a parliamentary coalition, while the government has the right to appoint regional governors nominated by the prime minister.
But Viktor Yanukovych, a former regional governor who was appointed prime minister in August for a second time, said much work remained to be done. "These authorities have not been properly clarified yet," he said. "The formation of the parliamentary-presidential system is still under way."
He also said "this process would be complicated and controversial."
Yanukovych said the lack of clarification prevented the government from working normally.
