Azarov becomes prime minister of pro-presidential government

Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada approved, with 240 votes in favor, a new Cabinet of Ministers yesterday, immediately following the announcement of the ruling coalition. Mykola Azarov, erstwhile ally of President Viktor Yanukovych, former Finance Minister and current Regions leader was named Prime Minister. Brad Wells: The new Cabinet’s pro-presidential allegiance should lead to more coherent signals from the Ukrainian government and end the deadlock of recent years. However, we note some eyebrow-raising appointments, which look politically motivated, in particular, Economy Minister Vasil Tsushko’s profile is void of a relevant background – he is an ex-Interior Minister and the return of several Kuchma-era figures. As noted yesterday, the Constitutional Court, which previously ruled that parliamentary coalitions of individual deputies (upon which the new Cabinet of Ministers is based), could void the whole kit-and-caboodle – hence we take a very cool wait-and-see view on this development.