Regions' blockade of Rada resumes in fall session

Yesterday Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada convened for the fifth session of its sixth convocation – and it ended its day just as it closed its fourth session – blocked. The only item on the agenda to reach a vote, a draft law initiated by the Party of Regions that would have increased social spending (minimum wage and pension payments), failed to pass (garnering 220 votes, just shy of the 226 necessary). The Party of Regions, which had also fought to push through the legislation this summer, blocked the rostrum in response and no further items were considered. Brad Wells: We foresee little chance of the Party of Regions removing its blockade anytime in the near future. By effectively stopping the work of parliament, it simultaneously gets to stand up for the working class and retired voters, while forcing Tymoshenko’s Cabinet of Ministers to enact unpopular, but critical reforms via decree. With Regions’ leader Viktor Yanukovich commanding a lead in recent opinion polls of ~10-15 pp over the nearest candidate for the January presidential election, there are not sufficient reasons for him to change tactics now.