Ukrainian coalition government collapses
Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko's pro-Western "Orange" coalition fell apart today paving the way for the country's new president to consolidate his power.
The development means Ms Tymoshenko will soon be out of office and spells the final repudiation of the Orange Revolution she helped lead in 2004.
Russia-friendly President Viktor Yanukovych defeated her in last month's presidential vote, but she has been a thorn in his side ever since, refusing to resign and challenging the vote results.
Speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn told parliament the ruling Orange coalition had been unable to prove it still had majority support in the 450-seat chamber.
"This coalition did not come up with enough votes ... I therefore announce the termination of this coalition's activity," he said.
Ukraine's political parties must now form a new majority coalition and are most likely to group around Mr Yanukovych's Party of Regions. He said if no majority can be reached he will disband parliament and call snap elections.
The Orange coalition, formed in December 2008, was loosely centred around the political ideals of the Orange Revolution, a series of massive street protests in 2004 led by former President Viktor Yushchenko and Ms Tymoshenko.
Those protests against vote fraud resulted in the Supreme Court overturning Mr Yanukovych's rigged election victory in 2004, and Mr Yushchenko, a reformer who wanted closer Ukrainian integration with the West, won in a revote. Ms Tymoshenko became his prime minister.
But their constant quarrelling and inability to deliver on promises of European integration and economic growth fuelled Mr Yanukovych's comeback.
Ms Tymoshenko so far has refused to concede defeat, but the failure of her coalition will likely force her into an opposition role in parliament, analysts said.
