Our Ukraine Stops To Smell The Oranges.

Following a meeting of their party council last night, Our Ukraine announced that it was prepared to sign a pre-coalition agreement with the Yulia Tymoshenko Block and the Socialist Party. This agreement will open negotiations between the three parties on the signing of a coalition agreement and the assignment of posts in the future government. Our Ukraine plans to hold a press conference this afternoon outlining their plans. Concorde Capital: The media has been awash with coalition agreement rumors since the elections. Some newspapers have suggested that Tymoshenko has agreed to take the Rada Speaker position and give the PM spot to Our Ukraine. Others have suggested that Our Ukraine would be willing to form a coalition with BYT if their members would be able to occupy key posts in the new government as well as in the State Property Fund and State Prosecutor’s Office. Despite the announcement of the preliminary agreement, Our Ukraine’s foot-dragging suggests they are less than thrilled to be working with Tymoshenko. The biggest sticking point stopping an agreement between Our Ukraine and Regions is Regions demand that Yanokovich be made Prime Minister. It is possible Our Ukraine is trying improve its bargaining position with Regions. Look for the coalition process to heat up next week after the vote count is made official.