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Ukraine's Yushchenko proposes rival Yanunkovich as PM | Quote: | KIEV (Reuters) - Western-leaning Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko proposed opposition leader Viktor Yanukovich as prime minister on Thursday in a deal that is likely to hand over huge powers to his pro-Moscow rival.
Yushchenko said he decided to propose Yanukovich -- the man he defeated in the 2004 "Orange Revolution" -- after extracting written guarantees that he would not try to overturn market reforms and pro-Western policies.
But there were no details on what concessions were made by Yanukovich, who favours closer ties with Moscow. Parliament was expected to vote him in as prime minister later on Thursday.
The deal ended four months of political deadlock in which Ukraine has had only a caretaker government.
After hours of talks deep into the night trying to hammer out a coalition deal, Yushchenko said in a televised address: "I have decided to put forward Viktor Yanukovich for the post of Ukraine's prime minister."
Yushchenko backed away from his other, high-risk option of dissolving parliament and calling new elections, choosing instead a potentially awkward "co-habitation" with Yanukovich.
Yanukovich was put forward as prime minister by a slim parliamentary majority made up of his Regions party, the Socialists and Communists. |
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