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Ukraine’s presidential administration expects PM’s resignation next week

Over the past several weeks, teams of the president and the premier have been holding talks behind closed doors on replacing Yatsenyuk and forming a new cabinet of ministers
 Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk
Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk

KIEV, March 17. /TASS/. Lawmakers may consider the issue of Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk’s resignation at an extraordinary session of the parliament next week, a source in the presidential administration told the Ukrayinska Pravda newspaper on Thursday.

The discussion in the Verkhovna Rada is unlikely to be held this week as President Pyotr Poroshenko is paying a working visit to Brussels, the source said, adding that chances that the session could take place on Saturday were also slim.

"Most likely, such a meeting be held already next week," the source told the newspaper.

Over the past several weeks, teams of the president and the premier have been holding talks behind closed doors on replacing Yatsenyuk and forming a new cabinet of ministers. Poroshenko has already had a number of meetings with leaders of parliamentary factions to overcome the political crisis in the country.

Ukraine’s presidential spokesman Svyatoslav Tsegolko said three scenarios were possible. First, a technocratic government led by American-born Finance Minister Natalie Jaresko could be set up if all pro-European factions support such a cabinet. Second, a government headed by Lvov Mayor Andrei Sadovy could be formed. Third, other candidates could be also suggested by the parliamentary forces if there is necessary support in the Rada.

Ukraine’s parliament failed to oust Yatsenyuk and his embattled government after holding a heated debate on February 16 on the government’s performance in 2015. A no-confidence vote was supported by 194 lawmakers whereas at least 226 votes are needed to pass a resolution. At the last moment, the MPs changed their mind in a surprise move.

The situation in Ukraine’s parliament looked quite awkward as the MPs recognized the government’s work as unsatisfactory but they still failed to oust the cabinet. These events sparked a deep political crisis in the country.

Following the parliament’s failure to oust the Yatsenyuk government, the Batkivshchina faction, several MPs of the pro-presidential Petro Poroshenko Bloc and Samopomoshch withdrew from the coalition stripping it of the majority of votes needed to pass decisions.