Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07KYIV3035
2007-12-10 13:39:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kyiv
Cable title:  

UKRAINE: TYMOSHENKO PM VOTE COMES DOWN TO THE WIRE

Tags:  PGOV PREL UP 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO8000
PP RUEHLMC
DE RUEHKV #3035 3441339
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 101339Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY KYIV
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4526
INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE
RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L KYIV 003035 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/10/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL UP
SUBJECT: UKRAINE: TYMOSHENKO PM VOTE COMES DOWN TO THE WIRE

Classified By: PolCouns Kent Logsdon for reasons 1.4(b,d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L KYIV 003035

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/10/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL UP
SUBJECT: UKRAINE: TYMOSHENKO PM VOTE COMES DOWN TO THE WIRE

Classified By: PolCouns Kent Logsdon for reasons 1.4(b,d).


1. (C) Summary. The December 11 vote on Tymoshenko's
candidacy is shaping up to be a nail-biter, with three
members of OU-PSD reportedly now in the hospital for various
medical problems, Regions still threatening to block the
rostrum, and disputes over Cabinet positions straining the
coalition. Pora leader Vladyslav Kaskiv (OU-PSD),who
underwent surgery this weekend, said he has requested
doctor's permission to attend the Rada session, but
Tymoshenko will need all 227 BYuT and OU-PSD MPs who signed
the coalition agreement to be present for the vote, including
the three OU-PSD MPs in the hospital, especially given OU-PSD
MP and former NSDC Secretary Plyushch's continued reluctance
to support her. Moreover, BYuT MP Volynets told us late on
December 10 that Presidential Chief of Staff Baloha had made
a number of last minute changes to the OU-PSD slate of
nominees for the Cabinet, which necessitated BYuT calling for
a 9 pm meeting (Kyiv time) to discuss whether Baloha's new
proposals are acceptable. In a tacit acknowledgment to the
fragility of the coalition, Tymoshenko continues to court the
other parties in the Rada, but there is little sign that they
are inclined to vote for her. End summary.

Factions Stake Our Their Positions
--------------


2. (C) Rada Speaker Yatsenyuk said on a December 7 talk show
that he plans to hold Rada leadership votes in the morning
and the PM vote in the afternoon of December 11. On December
10, Yatsenyuk reminded the press that if Tymoshenko's
nomination fails the first time, Yushchenko can nominate her
again, although we wonder how long she will want to put
herself out there to be rejected, which could undermine her
public standing. Yatsenyuk also said that if she is not
confirmed, he will step down as Speaker. The President met
December 10 with Yatsenyuk to discuss nominees for Foreign
and Defense Minister, as well as Yushchenko's presentation of
Tymoshenko as the Prime Minister-designate in the Rada.
Yushchenko also met with Tymoshenko, and OU-PSD leaders
Lutsenko and Kyrylenko to discuss the course of events for
Tuesday.


3. (SBU) Regions MP Khara told the press on December 10
that Tymoshenko was conducting negotiations with Lytvyn Bloc,
as well as some members of Regions in a bid to gain more
support for her December 11 confirmation vote. Khara said
that Regions' policy was not to vote for her, and in fact,
they were currently discussing whether to blockade the
rostrum or boycott the session if the Rada does not first
hold votes on deputy speakers and committee leadership. BYuT
deputy faction leader Kornichuk confirmed to the press that
BYuT was meeting with "the useful part" of Regions. Lytvyn
Bloc MP Zahrubynskiy told Ukrainska Pravda that Tymoshenko
was scheduled to meet with his faction at 9 am on December
11, but that the meeting was unlikely to alter the bloc's
decision not to vote for her.


4. (SBU) Regions deputy faction leader Chechetov later told
the press that at an afternoon faction meeting on December
10, Regions reaffirmed its decision to back Communist MP
Martynyuk as First Deputy Speaker -- some leading OU-PSD and
BYuT MPs have criticized the choice and said they will not
vote for Martynyuk. Chechetov characterized such comments as
a sign of the coalition's undemocratic nature. The gathered
Regions faction also voted to make Yanukovych the new faction
leader, replacing Raisa Bohatyreva.


5. (C) Comment. Regions' continued focus on the deputy
speaker vote as a prerequisite for the PM vote rings a little
false given that they are the ones who have been dragging
their feet on nominating someone. However, OU-PSD and BYuT
could remove this roadblock by agreeing to Martynyuk, a
candidate they seemingly had been willing to support a week
ago when Yatsenyuk's candidacy was on the line.


6. (U) Visit Embassy Kyiv's classified website:
www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/kiev.
Taylor