Ukrainian Parliament Rejects PM
Ukraine’s parliament Tuesday rejected a request by President Leonid Kuchma to let Prime Minister Valery Pustovoitenko remain in power, triggering a crisis that could delay passage of the budget and the unfreezing of international loans.
Kuchma hit back by warning the leftist parliament to cooperate and form a “constructive majority” to back reforms, or face a nationwide referendum on constitutional reforms dissolving the assembly before its term ends in 2002.
“I will not give up the idea of holding a referendum and will ask [the people] to support me,” Kuchma told a news conference.
“If there is this constructive majority, let it [parliament] work until 2002. If there is no such majority, the country does not need this parliament.”
Pustovoitenko’s government resigned last month in line with Ukraine’s post-Soviet constitution after Kuchma was re-elected for a second presidential term.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
