Constitutional Court to announce coalition ruling today

Ukraine’s Constitutional Court yesterday called for a press conference today, Thursday April 8, at 14:00 local time to announce its ruling on the legitimacy of the pro-presidential coalition formed in the Verkhovna Rada on March 11. The “Stability and Reform” coalition was approved by a vote of 235 and includes the Party of Regions, Lytvyn Bloc and Communist Party – as well as individual MPs from the Tymoshenko and Our Ukraine Blocs. Brad Wells: Ukraine’s Constitution forbids the formation of coalitions composed of individual MPs a la Stability & Reform from various parties, which was upheld in a September 2008 Constitutional Court ruling. A ruling, likely exploiting a loophole of some fashion or splitting legal hairs, upholding the coalition while at the same time observing the previous ruling is expected. Such a ruling would legitimize the Party of Regions’ hold on the central levers of power, the presidential office, Cabinet of Ministers and parliament – a political affirmation they badly desire. Concerns about the blatant disregard for the Constitution in the coalition’s formation, and claims of intimidation and bribery of court judges would largely be shrugged off by the administration, though should fuel the opposition movement. On the other hand, if the Constitutional Court rules against the coalition, we are likely to face pre-term parliamentary elections – and more months ahead of political limbo and electioneering.