Parliament reappoints Azarov as Ukraine PM

Ukraine’s parliament voted on Dec. 13 to approve the nomination of Mykola Azarov of the Party of Regions to return as prime minister, drawing the support of 252 MPs. The newly formed majority also mustered 250 votes to approve the nomination of Party of Regions co-founder Volodymyr Rybak to serve as the parliamentary speaker. The majority consisted of 210 MPs of the Party of Regions, 33 MPs of the Communist Party and about 7-9 independent MPs representing single-mandate districts.

Zenon Zawada: Azarov will keep the government on its same course as the last two years, which on the economic front has involved serving big business interests while shifting a large part of the state’s fiscal revenue burden on small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Azarov will bring back at least half his Cabinet, but likely more. The new parliamentary rules don’t require the formation of a coalition government so the Party of Regions won’t be as beholden to the Communists as earlier, greasing the skids for more legislation friendly to big business and euro-integration efforts. Many votes will require situational majorities.