Ukraine delays poll to allow financial crisis package

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(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-10-21 13:57

KIEV -- Ukraine's President Viktor Yushchenko on Monday put back the date for a parliamentary election to December 14 from December 7, to allow it to work on a package to ease the effects of the financial crisis.

Activists of the youth movement 'Femen' take part in a mud wrestling show to protest "dirty politics and election technologies" in central Kiev October 19, 2008. [Agencies]

The ruling coalition collapsed in September after months of bickering between Yushchenko and Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko. She is against holding would be the third parliamentary election since the 2004 "Orange" Revolution.

"Today I signed a decree to renew the work of parliament for several days," he said in a televised announcement after an hours-long meeting with the National Security and Defence Council devoted to the effects of the world financial crisis.

"To allow for orderly preparations for elections, I have also decided to move the date of voting to December 14," he said.

Yushchenko wants parliament to pass measures, including spending cuts for a balanced budget and the creation of a fund that could buy out ailing firms and banks, to help cushion Ukraine against the impact of the global financial crisis.

Yushchenko spoke after he and Tymoshenko separately met an International Monetary Fund delegation, which has been in Kiev since last week for talks on a possible loan. Officials have said Ukraine could receive up to $14 billion.

"We hope that parliament will approve the anti-crisis measures which were discussed at the Security Council," he said.

The National Security and Defence Council brings together top officials, including the president and prime minister. Its decisions, drafted in presidential decrees, must be implemented.

Tymoshenko has said that holding an election now would be reckless and has repeatedly called for Yushchenko's party to rejoin the governing coalition.

She changed tack over the weekend and invited all parties to unite in a new coalition, but politicians stayed away from the meeting on Monday. She was joined by just her party members, the Communist Party and some rebel from the president's Our Ukraine party.

"It is a great shame that there has been insufficient wisdom to form a united team. But I feel we have seen a first attempt," Tymoshenko, clearly irritated, told a news conference.

"My proposal to unite everyone in parliament to strengthen the government remains in force. I shall wait for all political forces to become fully aware of the situation."