07KYIV3066, UKRAINE: PM VOTE SCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER 18
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Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
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07KYIV3066 | 2007-12-14 10:58 | 2011-08-30 01:44 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Kyiv |
VZCZCXYZ0001 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHKV #3066/01 3481058 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 141058Z DEC 07 FM AMEMBASSY KYIV TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4566 INFO RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L KYIV 003066 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/14/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL UP SUBJECT: UKRAINE: PM VOTE SCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER 18 REF: KYIV 3048 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: Political Counselor Kent Logsdon for reasons 1.4(a,b,d). ¶1. (C) Summary. The Rada approved an agenda for the December 18 session that will include a vote on the PM, the Government, deputy speakers, and the distribution of committee chairmanships. In spite of their best efforts, Rada Speaker Yatsenyuk and the orange coalition were unsuccessful December 12-14 in bringing another vote to the floor on Yuliya Tymoshenko's candidacy to be PM. Since the December 11 voting debacle (reftel) and the President's December 12 renomination of Tymoshenko to be PM, the coalition has been unable to get Regions' agreement to move ahead with a vote, battling it out behind closed doors over committee chairmanships, deputy speaker nominations and rules of procedure. Regions allowed the December 13 session to go forward, but again blocked the Speaker's chair and the dais throughout the day on December 14. Meanwhile, the press is reporting that Yushchenko will head for Switzerland on December 18 for medical treatment; however, Rada deputies have agreed that Yushchenko can do the next introduction of Tymoshenko by letter and that he does not need to be in the chamber for another round of PM voting. ¶2. (C) Comment. Although most Rada deputies, both coalition and opposition, agree that Tymoshenko will eventually be elected as PM, the coalition's failure to bring a vote for Tymoshenko back to the floor is leading to increased speculation about the ability of the coalition to establish a government that will last. In addition to the coalition's public disputes with Regions, the OU-PSD faction is having its own internal squabble about its nominees for the new government, with deputies angry about several of the Presidential Secretariat's choices -- especially the nominees for Education and Justice, but with some concerns expressed about Defense and Agriculture as well. Young BYuT and OU-PSD deputies are frustrated with the long delay in getting to government, leading some to propose that the coalition simply ignore Regions' demands and hold a vote. However, thus far, Yatsenyuk is playing the game and after two days of negotiations, seems to have succeeded in getting approval for the PM vote to take place December 18. End Summary and Comment. No Action at the Rada --------------------- ¶3. (SBU) After the failed December 11 PM vote, the coalition wasted no time in positioning Tymoshenko for another vote, moving quickly to resubmit her nomination to the President, who submitted the name to the Rada for consideration the morning of December 12. However, Regions blockading of the Speaker's dais and the rostrum paralyzed the parliament for the day, while negotiations among Rada leaders continued. On December 13, Regions took their seats to allow testimony on the functioning of the Rada computer voting system from the SBU, Prosecutor General's Office, and Rada IT staff. The general consensus was that no problem had been found, technical or intentional manipulation, and they blamed human error on the part of new MPs that had led to improper voting. However, they also could not conclusively rule out that there had not been outside interference in the computers, leaving both Regions and BYuT dissatisfied with the investigation. Ironically, later that day the computer voting unit of a Regions MP short-circuited, emitting smoke into the Rada chamber. ¶4. (SBU) December 14 saw Regions once again blocking the rostrum and barricading all possible paths to the Speaker's dais. When Yatsenyuk finally addressed the chamber, he did it from the floor. He apologized for the delays and said the negotiations were ongoing. He announced Regions' proposal that votes on the PM, Cabinet, and Rada leadership take place Tuesday December 18, but said that the agreement was not finalized. The Rada then went back into recess while Yatsenyuk and the faction leaders continued their talks. At about 2:15, the Rada approved Regions' proposal to hold all the votes December 18, with 274 votes in favor (although ironically it appears that most of Regions' factions did not vote for their own proposal). In addition, with 253 in favor (BYuT, OU-PSD, Communists), the Rada changed the voting procedure for electing the PM. The Speaker will now read the names of all MPs in alphabetical order in roll call fashion. When an MP's name is called, he will have to announced his decision, and if he is for, he should also raise his hands. Then the Rada adjourned for the weekend. ¶5. (C) MPs with whom we spoke in the Rada corridors were frustrated with the lack of progress this week, especially young deputies new to parliament, some of whom said that they would change procedures when they obtained leadership positions. A number of coalition MPs confirmed that debate continues between OU-PSD and the President over Cabinet nominees, especially for the Education and Justice Ministries. Regions MP Miroshnychenko told us that there was a debate within his own faction about the utility of continuing to block the rostrum, but said that a number of the older faction leaders were pushing intransigence as a way to look strong it front of its electorate. Both Miroshnychenko and fellow faction member Shufrych told us that the blockade would continue until the coalition apologized for accusing Regions of manipulating the Rada computer system on December 11, but other MPs told us they believed Regions was stalling in hopes of deepening rifts within the coalition. ¶6. (U) Visit Embassy Kyiv's classified website: www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/kiev. Taylor
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