The pro-presidential bloc Our Ukraine and the ruling coalition comprising Yanukovych's pro-Russian Party of Regions, the Socialists, and the Communists were in talks for two months on the formation of a broad coalition of national unity. On October 5, however, Our Ukraine vowed to form a radical opposition and called on its ministers to quit the recently appointed pro-Russian coalition government.
President Yushchenko then urged the political leaders "to return to a constructive dialogue" and to resume talks on forming a broad coalition.
Yanukovych, Yushchenko's former rival in the 2004 election, told journalists after a meeting with the president Tuesday, "We have agreed to work on a broad coalition," he said.
"Stabilizing the political situation is our common goal," Yanukovych said. "Politicians should seek compromises when national interests and important goals are at issue," he added.
The mooted broad coalition would have a total of 321 seats in the 450-member Supreme Rada, consolidating the Party of Regions' 186, Our Ukraine's 81, the Socialists' 33, and the Communists' 21.
The Our Ukraine bloc was part of the 'orange' coalition, which emerged after the inconclusive March parliamentary elections, along with the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc, which won 129 seats, and the Socialists.
The alliance collapsed when the Socialists defected to join the Party of Regions and the Communist Party to form an 'anti-crisis' coalition.
