Mass protests in ukraine
31 March 2007
Published in AFP
Tens of thousands of Ukrainians held rival demonstrations here Saturday supporting or protesting threats by pro-Western President Viktor Yushchenko to dissolve parliament.
About 20,000 supporters of the pro-Russian government coalition waving blue and white flags of the progovernmental Regions party were the first to march, before meeting on central Europe Square.
Tens of thousands of Ukrainians held rival demonstrations here Saturday supporting or protesting threats by pro-Western President Viktor Yushchenko to dissolve parliament.
About 20,000 supporters of the pro-Russian government coalition waving blue and white flags of the progovernmental Regions party were the first to march, before meeting on central Europe Square.
Meanwhile tens of thousands of pro-Western
supporters of the opposition presidential parties
Our Ukraine and Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc, which demand
the president dissolve parliament and hold early
elections, gathered on the main square of Kiev, the
Maidan, despite a court ruling banning protests
there.
The rallies were the biggest in more than two years. "I believe that the Maidan will be the starting point for a new revolution," Yury Lutsenko, one of the opposition leaders, told the crowd.
"Each voice in this square is a voice for an urgent dissolution of parliament, right?" Tymoshenko said, a question that drew a powerful "yes" from the crowd.
The meeting of the opposition forces started with a concert of Ukrainian rock groups which was to be followed by speeches of opposition leaders.
President Yushchenko has repeatedly warned pro- Russian forces that he would dissolve parliament if they failed to respect earlier agreements and abide by the constitution. If the parliamentary majority "does not return to working in accordance with the constitution I will sign a decree dissolving parliament," Yushchenko told a congress of his party Saturday.
Yushchenko said he would meet with the leaders of parliament and parliamentary groups on Monday.
In further comments on Saturday he called for a ban on deputies crossing to the opposing side in parliament and that the government support his pro-Western policies. Yushchenko has accused the pro-Russian coalition that dominates parliament of trying to "usurp power" by getting pro-Western lawmakers to switch sides.
If the pro-Russian parliamentary majority accumulates 300 votes, the coalition will be able to change the constitution according to their interests and to overcome all presidential vetoes. It currently has around 250 votes. Dissolving parliament is not without its risks to the president, however, with opinion polls indicating that it is far from certain that pro-Western parties would win fresh elections.
Pro-Moscow Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych meanwhile remained defiant.
"We will not accept ultimatums which are beyond the limits of the law and the constitution," Yanukovych said on Saturday.
But he added in a more conciliatory note: "We appeal to the president and the opposition to join us in building our country in order to improve the lives of our people." Yanukovych supporters set up dozens of tents in a central park. One of the demonstrators told AFP that he and others, many from the east and south of the country, had been paid 30 dollars (23 euros) a night to stay in the tents. Yushchenko and Yanukovych have been at loggerheads since the premier won parliamentary elections in March last year.
Yushchenko had defeated Yanukovych when mass protests known as the "orange revolution" forced a re-run of a flawed 2004 presidential election at which Yanukovych was originally declared the winner.
The Ukrainian leader favours full integration of the ex- Soviet republic with the West, including the NATO military alliance.
Yanukovych, backed by Russian speakers from the east and south, is opposed to NATO membership and favours links to Moscow.
The rallies were the biggest in more than two years. "I believe that the Maidan will be the starting point for a new revolution," Yury Lutsenko, one of the opposition leaders, told the crowd.
"Each voice in this square is a voice for an urgent dissolution of parliament, right?" Tymoshenko said, a question that drew a powerful "yes" from the crowd.
The meeting of the opposition forces started with a concert of Ukrainian rock groups which was to be followed by speeches of opposition leaders.
President Yushchenko has repeatedly warned pro- Russian forces that he would dissolve parliament if they failed to respect earlier agreements and abide by the constitution. If the parliamentary majority "does not return to working in accordance with the constitution I will sign a decree dissolving parliament," Yushchenko told a congress of his party Saturday.
Yushchenko said he would meet with the leaders of parliament and parliamentary groups on Monday.
In further comments on Saturday he called for a ban on deputies crossing to the opposing side in parliament and that the government support his pro-Western policies. Yushchenko has accused the pro-Russian coalition that dominates parliament of trying to "usurp power" by getting pro-Western lawmakers to switch sides.
If the pro-Russian parliamentary majority accumulates 300 votes, the coalition will be able to change the constitution according to their interests and to overcome all presidential vetoes. It currently has around 250 votes. Dissolving parliament is not without its risks to the president, however, with opinion polls indicating that it is far from certain that pro-Western parties would win fresh elections.
Pro-Moscow Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych meanwhile remained defiant.
"We will not accept ultimatums which are beyond the limits of the law and the constitution," Yanukovych said on Saturday.
But he added in a more conciliatory note: "We appeal to the president and the opposition to join us in building our country in order to improve the lives of our people." Yanukovych supporters set up dozens of tents in a central park. One of the demonstrators told AFP that he and others, many from the east and south of the country, had been paid 30 dollars (23 euros) a night to stay in the tents. Yushchenko and Yanukovych have been at loggerheads since the premier won parliamentary elections in March last year.
Yushchenko had defeated Yanukovych when mass protests known as the "orange revolution" forced a re-run of a flawed 2004 presidential election at which Yanukovych was originally declared the winner.
The Ukrainian leader favours full integration of the ex- Soviet republic with the West, including the NATO military alliance.
Yanukovych, backed by Russian speakers from the east and south, is opposed to NATO membership and favours links to Moscow.