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No changes expected in Poroshenko Bloc following merger with Klitschko’s party — lawmaker

Former leader of the UDAR political party and Kiev Mayor Vitaly Klitschko has taken the lead of the UDAR-Solidarity united party
Petro Poroshenko and Vitaly Klitschko ITAR-TASS/Mikhail Markiv
Petro Poroshenko and Vitaly Klitschko
© ITAR-TASS/Mikhail Markiv

KIEV, August 28. /TASS/. The merger of the Petro Poroshenko Bloc - Solidarity presidential party with the UDAR party led by Kiev Mayor Vitaly Klitschko will not result in the changes in the party, head of the Poroshenko Bloc faction in the Verkhovna Rada Yury Lutsenko told reporters on Friday.

"No changes occur in the party, it will only become bigger by incorporating a large group of our old friends from UDAR," Lutsenko said.

On the other hand, he called the unification process "just the first step." "We expect other political forces to join the party and to strengthen their intercommunication in parliament," Lutsenko noted, referring to the People’s Front led by Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk.

Lutsenko said he was unaware of Yarsenyuk’s plans regarding the possible merger of the political forces. "I can say nothing about Arseniy [Yatsenyuk]’s plans. We are always open. I suggested joining forces and going to elections together a year ago. As soon as the People’s Front is ripe for the decision, things will come right," he added.

Meanwhile, the delegates of the unification congress of the Petro Poroshenko Bloc - Solidarity party and the UDAR political party have unanimously voted on Friday for the merger of the two political forces, a TASS correspondent reported.

As part of the legal procedure Klitschko and 18 of his associates left the UDAR party to join the Petro Poroshenko Bloc. Former leader of the UDAR political party and Kiev Mayor Vitaly Klitschko has taken the lead of the UDAR-Solidarity united party.