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Yanukovich on come-back trail

Vladimir Radyuhin

MOSCOW: Ukraine holds a crucial parliamentary election on Sunday that is expected to see a stunning comeback of Russia-backed former Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich who lost to pro-Western leader Viktor Yushchenko in the controversial presidential vote a little over a year ago. Pre-poll surveys show that Mr. Yanukovich's Party of the Regions will lead Sunday's elections with more than 30 per cent, trailed by Mr. Yushchenko's Our Ukraine with up to 20 per cent, and a bloc led by former Prime Minister Yulia Timoshenko with up to 17 per cent. The two leaders of the "orange revolution" split up several months after street protests against alleged election rigging which robbed Mr. Yanukovich of victory in the presidential race at the end of 2004. Mr. Yanukovich's political resurrection reflects profound disappointment in Ukraine with the year-long rule of the "orange revolution" Government which has been hit by infighting, corruption scandals and nose diving economy. Sunday's vote could determine whether Ukraine maintains the pro-Western course set by Mr. Yushchenko or moves to restore ties with Russia as Mr. Yanukovych has promised. Under a 2004 constitutional reform the new Parliament will receive unprecedented powers, including the right to name Prime Minister and most Ministers. The next Cabinet is expected to be a coalition one, as none of the 45 parties contesting Sunday's poll is likely to secure half the seats in the 450-seat legislature. Experts see four possible scenarios: an "orange" coalition uniting Our Ukraine and Tymoshenko's bloc with several smaller parties, an anti-"orange" coalition headed by the Regions Party, a wider coalition between Regions and one of the two main "orange" forces and a dissolution of Parliament by President Yushchenko if coalition talks fall through.

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