Rukh Will Go into Opposition if No Coalition

Rukh leader Yuri Kostenko confirmed at a press conference last Wednesday that his faction had officially mooted an initiative to form a coalition government. In his opinion, the issue of the Pustovoitenko Cabinet’s resignation could be put on the parliamentary agenda as soon as late March.

Leaving the Communists the right to topple the government, the Right is today engaged in a hasty “regrouping of potential reform forces” to create a majority and then form, on this basis, a coalition Cabinet. The Rukh leader declined to name names or specify the number of the coveted portfolios. “Since we have 10% of the seats in Verkhovna Rada, we will be claiming Cabinet posts,” Mr. Kostenko said. In his words, NDP, the Independents, the Reform-Center and the two Hromada factions have already expressed a desire to take part in governmental rotation.

The Rukh democrats are also “consulting” with the Regional Renaissance faction, but the relationship is based on little trust. The Rukh lobby intends to launch an offensive against the Naftohaz Ukrayiny (Oil & Gas of Ukraine) Joint-Stock Company, suggesting this monopoly should be “demonopolized”: the faction is contemplating a bill on the formation of several self-contained oil and gas structures.

It is noteworthy Mr. Kostenko thinks that “the course of events concerning a new Cabinet will depend on the President’s actions.” Mr. Kostenko has already met Mr. Kuchma and hopes the President will start consultations with Verkhovna Rada’s reform forces. Mr. Kuchma, however, has not yet supported this initiative. The reformers warn in turn: if “active work with the Presidential Administration, the Cabinet and, Parliament does not result logically in the formation of a coalition government,” Rukh will join the opposition.