Tymoshenko Looks Poised to Return as Pro-Presidential Speaker Elected

In their evening session last night the Verkhovna Rada voted to elect former Economic Minister and current Foreign Minister and Our Ukraine member, Arseniy Yatsenuk as Parliament Speaker.  Yatsenuk received 227 votes, or just one more vote than required. The Party of Regions, Lytvyn Bloc and Communists abstained from voting. Nick Piazza: Yatsenuk’s election was a key test for the discipline of the ‘orange coalition’ of the Tymoshenko and Our Ukraine blocs and sets the stage for the Prime Minister vote on Thursday.  In debates leading up to the vote last night Yatsenuk made no secret of his loyalties, saying that the faster the Rada voted in Tymoshenko as Prime Minister the better it would be for Ukraine. Additionally, when questioned Yatsenuk confirmed his commitment to Ukraine euro-integration, and gave an impassioned speech on the need for the country to abolish the moratorium on land to allow common Ukrainians to realize the value of their land. Yatsenuk is widely respected in the Rada and was viewed by many as a somewhat compromise candidate that could work with all sides in the new Parliament.