Ukrainian Parliament Rejects PM
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KIEV, Ukraine — Ukraine’s parliament Tuesday rejected a request by President Leonid Kuchma to let Prime Minister Valery Pustovoitenko remain in power, triggering a crisis that could delay passage of the budget and the unfreezing of international loans.
Kuchma hit back by warning the leftist parliament to cooperate and form a “constructive majority” to back reforms, or face a nationwide referendum on constitutional reforms dissolving the assembly before its term ends in 2002.
“I will not give up the idea of holding a referendum and will ask [the people] to support me,” Kuchma told a news conference.
“If there is this constructive majority, let it [parliament] work until 2002. If there is no such majority, the country does not need this parliament.”
Pustovoitenko’s government resigned last month in line with Ukraine’s post-Soviet constitution after Kuchma was re-elected for a second presidential term.
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