Ukraine opposition lacks support for parliamentary-presidential republic

Opposition leaders plan to submit a bill on Feb. 18 that would renew the 2004 constitutional amendments that created a parliamentary-presidential republic, which were overturned by a dubious 2010 ruling by the Constitutional Court, widely believed to be at the behest of President Viktor Yanukovych. The bill would have to be followed by amending 77 laws, the Kommersant-Ukraina news site reported on Feb. 17. Opposition MPs acknowledged they have failed to muster enough support so far for their measure, particularly from the ruling Party of Regions. Instead, Parliamentary Chair Volodymyr Rybak said he will propose creating a temporary special commission at the Feb. 18 session to draft a new constitution. The parliamentary majority is also preparing to support the president’s nomination of a new prime minister, who likely won’t be a compromise figure, according to news reports.

Zenon Zawada: The Presidential Administration has been able to outmaneuver easily the parliamentary opposition, which has proven impotent ever since the EuroMaidan’s launch. Despite its advantageous position, the Presidential Administration would be unwise to appoint a prime minister that is hostile to the EuroMaidan. Although the opposition’s politicians are quite feckless, the protest’s potential is a far greater force to be reckoned with. A hostile prime minister will only add fuel to the fire of the EuroMaidan movement.