Yushchenko Sends The Rada Packing?

President Viktor Yushchenko signed a decree on national TV late last night dissolving parliament and calling for new elections on May 27. In his speech, Yushchenko said he was forced to sack the Rada because of the way the ruling coalition was unconstitutionally luring deputies from other parties to its ranks, the unconstitutional nature of the laws the coalition had repeatedly attempted to pass and the ruling majority’s constant efforts to disrupt Ukraine’s national unity. Last night, the Rada held an emergency session where they voted to ignore the President’s order and continue working. Nick Piazza: Since the defection of the majority of the business wing in Yushchenko’s Our Ukraine party in mid-March, the more nationalistic elements of the Our Ukraine Bloc have gained a great deal of influence over the President. The President went into yesterday evening’s negotiations with the ruling coalition needing to be assured that they would stop attempting to attract members of the opposition to join their coalition. The coalition has already gathered more than a dozen of Yushchenko’s former allies and was threatening to reach 300 members, or the 2/3 majority required to override Presidential vetoes, amend the constitution and impeach the President. There is still a great deal of haziness surrounding the President’s legal right to dismiss parliament and we are likely to see a long political stalemate similar to last summer before all is said and done.