Ukraine leader opens coalition talks as Russia, West look on
Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko opened talks on forming a new government after a stinging election defeat, as Russia and the West fought to influence the country's future direction.
The outcome of the talks will affect the pro-Western drive Yushchenko has outlined for the strategic former Soviet nation since assuming power in late 2004, and the competing capitals quickly weighed in on the ballot.
While the European Union hoped that "the next government will want to come closer to the EU," NATO looked forward "to further deepening our cooperation" and Washington hailed what it called "a groundwork for a promising future."
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said he was looking for a government "that stands for development and a deepening of cooperation" between Kiev and Moscow.
Sunday's parliament election has left Yushchenko grasping for allies and a choice between Yulia Tymoshenko, whom he sacked as premier six months ago, and Viktor Yanukovych, leader of the main pro-Russian opposition party.
"The president has met with Prime Minister (Yury) Yekhanurov and told him to start consultations on creating a coalition in parliament," Ivan Vasyunyk, the president's first deputy chief of staff, said in televised comments.
Yushchenko's spokeswoman told AFP late Monday that the president planned to meet with the leaders of all parties that make it into parliament on Tuesday, when election officials expect to publish comprehensive election results.
In his first comment since polls closed, Yushchenko said the vote confirmed Ukraine's democratic progress.
"I am happy that all statements from domestic and international observers confirm Ukraine's democratic choice," he said, after Western observers hailed the ballot as free and fair.
After his first electoral test since assuming power, official results from 40 percent of polling stations showed Yushchenko's Our Ukraine party trailing in a humiliating third place with 16.18 percent.
The big winner, with 27.05 percent, was the Regions bloc of Yanukovych, the pro-Moscow former prime minister forced to cede to Yushchenko in the "orange revolution" of November and December 2004.
Tymoshenko, Yushchenko's one-time "orange revolution" ally, was close behind on 23.58 percent.
Comprehensive results are expected overnight or early Tuesday and exit polls suggest Yanukovych's bloc could win up to 30 percent overall.
Those polls also suggest two other parties will make it into parliament -- the president's Socialist allies on five percent, and the Communists, who back Yanukovych, on three percent.
In Washington, the White House denied US President George W. Bush had been disappointed by Yushchenko's defeat.
"People in Ukraine are continuing to shape their own future," said spokesman Scott McClellan.
EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said: "We look forward to continuing and deepening our partnership with Ukraine on the basis of a continued reform process."
With no party set to win enough votes to secure half the seats in the Upper Rada legislature, the next government will have to be a coalition.
If none is formed by June 10, Yushchenko can dissolve parliament and call new elections.
His rivals are now courting him to avoid languishing in opposition.
"Yushchenko is the beloved and they're both courting him," a senior Western diplomat said last week, predicting the president's tough no-win situation.
Either choice carries hefty risks.
Joining forces with Yanukovych will slow down reforms needed for Ukraine to move toward Yushchenko's ambitions of membership in the European Union and the Western defence alliance NATO.
But reuniting with Tymoshenko, who has demanded the premiership, may scare investors who are wary of her interventionist methods and strident stance on renationalization.
It also means endorsing an ambitious and popular politician who will likely challenge him at the next presidential election in 2009.
Although he enjoyed widespread support when he assumed power, Yushchenko's support slipped because of a sluggish economy and the acrimonious breakup of the feuding "orange revolution" team.
Yanukovych tapped into this sense of disillusionment, promising stability, economic prosperity and improved ties with Moscow.
AFP
