Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Ukraine's pro-Western coalition has collapsed, the parliament speaker announced today, paving the way for complicated coalition talks or yet another early parliamentary election.
The latest setback in the country's 4-year-old experiment with democracy seemed directly related to disagreements over how Ukraine should react to last month's war between neighboring Georgia and Russia.
The nine-month-old alliance composed of parties loyal to Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko and his 2004 Orange Revolution partner, Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, fell apart amid infighting between the two leaders. They have become fierce rivals ahead of the presidential election scheduled for 2010.
The parliament now has 30 days to either form a new coalition or call a fresh election. That would be the third parliamentary vote in as many years and another blow to hopes for quick reforms in Ukraine and its integration with the West, which both leaders campaigned for.
"I officially announce the termination of the democratic coalition in the Verkhovna Rada," speaker Arseniy Yatsenyuk told lawmakers, referring to the Ukrainian legislature. "It is yet another democratic challenge, but I hope that together we will overcome this challenge."
Yushchenko and Tymoshenko have engaged in a tug-of-war since she regained the premiership in December, accusing each other of corruption and incompetence, and blocking each other's policies.
The final straw came as Yushchenko accused Tymoshenko of acting in the Kremlin's favor by failing to condemn Russia's war with Georgia. Tymoshenko fired back by saying that Yushchenko's overwhelming support of Georgia drags Ukraine into the conflict.
Tymoshenko then teamed up with the Russia-friendly opposition to adopt a law that trims presidential powers and boosts her own. Yushchenko called that a coup attempt and his party pulled out of the coalition.
Some analysts predict that a new governing coalition may involve the Russia-leaning Party of Regions.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments