It looks as though Yuliya Tymoshenko will indeed be the new prime minister in Ukraine, after the final count today gives her and President Viktor Yushchenko a thin majority in the new parliament. It's a very thin coalition; LEvko reports that several attempts to bring a third coalition partner on board have failed. That failure may be due to the continued desire of Yushchenko to keep his erstwhile enemy Viktor Yanukovych closer by having Yanukovych's party have all the deputy ministerial posts. The most likely third partner in the coalition has warned that would be a deal breaker. But if Yushchenko has the ability to choose the speaker of the parliament, he may still have a card to play to solidify the majority.

Labels: Ukraine