Moroz Says Parliament Would Refuse to Disband.

Parliament’s speaker, Olexander Moroz, warned last night in a televised speech that if President Yushchenko attempts to disband the legislature, parliament would not recognize the decision as valid. Moroz argued that Yushchenko is obliged to forward Regions party leader Viktor Yanukovich’s nomination to parliament for a vote and warned the president not to provoke a “civic conflict” like the one in Russia in 1993 (when Boris Yeltsin sent tanks at parliament). Yushchenko had previously argued that he would receive the right to disband parliament on July 25, today. Parliament also adopted a resolution allowing Moroz to call MPs to session in the place of his choosing if the president initiates the disbandment procedure. However, Moroz also said “constructive talks” were underway with Our Ukraine about joining the coalition. Tom Warner: We doubt Yushchenko is getting ready to lock MPs out of the parliament building. We believe Yushchenko is negotiating the terms by which he would approve Yanukovich’s nomination, but it is a very bitter pill, and so Moroz and Yanukovich are laying on the pressure. Under the new constitution, the prime minister has very broad powers, and there is almost nothing the president can do to get rid of a prime minister who has the support of a majority in parliament. For example, if Yushchenko agreed to forward Yanukovich’s nomination in return for certain ministries, Yanukovich could break the deal, sack Yushchenko’s ministers and appoint new ones.