Ukraine's orange revolution allies form coalition

Former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko announced in Ukraine’s parliament that a coalition of Orange Revolution allies had formed a new government.

“We start our struggle so that our county can be democratic,” Tymoshenko, who will return as prime minister under the agreement, said to strong applause in the parliamentary hall.

The three parties that led the 2004 Orange Revolution mass protests will hold a 243-seat majority in the 450-member parliament.

The coalition brings together president Viktor Yushchenko’s party, Tymoshenko’s bloc and the Socialists – parties that have struggled for nearly three months to overcome differences on economic and foreign policy issues and lingering distrust after their first union collapsed last year.

The new agreement pledges to continue the general reformist and pro-Western program adopted by Yushchenko, who came to power after the Orange Revolution. It also will bring back Tymoshenko, whom Yushchenko fired in September, saying that her populist policies had brought the country to the verge of economic ruin.

The need for a coalition government arose after no party won a majority in the March parliamentary election.

The pro-Russian Party of Regions led by Yushchenko’s 2004 election rival Viktor Yanukovych will become the main opposition party.