Regions Party Strengthened by Businessmen Defectors From Tymoshenko Bloc

The Regions and Communist parties yesterday fell three votes short of dismissing Yurii Lutsenko, the interior minister, but said they would try again today. They were joined by 11 MPs from the Tymoshenko bloc, including top businessmen Vasyl Khmelnytsky (Kievenergo major minority), Tariel Vasadze (Ukravto/AvtoZAZ), the Buryak brothers (Brokbiznesbank), and Olexander Yedin (Express Bank). After a preliminary vote where 18 of her bloc’s MPs voted against Lutsenko, Yulia Tymoshenko said her bloc would expel all “traitors” from its faction. Five former Tymoshenko bloc MPs were expelled earlier for supporting the coalition. Tom Warner: The Regions party will come out greatly strengthened, as the ex-Tymoshenko businessmen can be played off against the Socialists, including in the dismissal of Lutsenko, who will probably fall today. It is still unclear who will name the new interior minister the Regions or Socialist party, however, should Regions get the post it will give the party virtually full control over law enforcement, as the prosecutor general and tax police chiefs are already Regions allies, and the chief of the SBU national security police has recently moved into the Regions camp.