Ukraine Parliament – Democracy in Action
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[Ukraine’s newly elected parliament on Thursday approved two presidential allies for the posts of prime minister and parliament speaker, but the vote was nearly overshadowed by a violent brawl between government supporters and opposition lawmakers.
The Party of Regions led by President Viktor Yanukovych and its allies secured a majority in the Verkhovna Rada following an October election condemned as unfair by the West. But three opposition parties made a strong showing and vowed to challenge Yanukovych’s grip on power.
Some took that literally. For the second day of the new parliament’s work, fists flew as opposition lawmakers chanted [Shame! Shame!] and [No to defectors!]
Shortly after parliament began its work Thursday morning, opposition lawmakers swarmed the parliament’s podium and a fight erupted with pro-government legislators. Lawmakers wrestled with each other and some deputies were knocked over in the melee. Opposition lawmakers were angry over the fact that some of their opponents continued the controversial practice of voting in place of their absent colleagues, despite a recent ban]. – Maria Danilova via Associated Press
The Party of Regions led by President Viktor Yanukovych and its allies secured a majority in the Verkhovna Rada following an October election condemned as unfair by the West. But three opposition parties made a strong showing and vowed to challenge Yanukovych’s grip on power.
Some took that literally. For the second day of the new parliament’s work, fists flew as opposition lawmakers chanted [Shame! Shame!] and [No to defectors!]
Shortly after parliament began its work Thursday morning, opposition lawmakers swarmed the parliament’s podium and a fight erupted with pro-government legislators. Lawmakers wrestled with each other and some deputies were knocked over in the melee. Opposition lawmakers were angry over the fact that some of their opponents continued the controversial practice of voting in place of their absent colleagues, despite a recent ban]. – Maria Danilova via Associated Press
Parliament members scuffle over voting rules during the first session of the newly-elected Ukrainian parliament in Kiev. A session of Ukraine's new parliament collapsed amid chaos when brawls erupted among opposition deputies and those of the ruling party over the election of parliamentary officials. (Photo by Anatolii Stepanov/Reuters Photo)
Lawmakers fight around the rostrum during the first session of Ukraine's newly elected parliament in Kiev, Ukraine, December 13, 2012. (Photo by Sergei Chuzavkov/Associated Press)
Opposition lawmakers chase away two colleagues from the parliament hall whom they suspect of preparing to defect to the party loyal to President Viktor Yanukovych during the first session of Ukraine's newly elected parliament in Kiev, Ukraine, Wednesday, December 12, 2012. Ukraine's newly elected parliament has convened after a disputed vote, but its first session was already marred by a protest and a skirmish. President Viktor Yanukovych's Party of Regions secured a slim majority in parliament after an election criticized by the West as unfair over the jailing of ex-premier Yulia Tymoshenko.(Photo by Aleksander Kosarev, Pool/AP Photo)
Deputies of the opposition fight with deputies of majority party during the opening of the newly elected Ukrainian parliament in Kiev on December 12, 2012. Ukraine's parliament has seen several physical confrontations in recent years amid bitter confrontation between opposition and pro-government camps. (Photo by Sergei Supinsky/AFP)
Deputies of the opposition fight with deputies of majority party during the opening of the newly elected Ukrainian parliament in Kiev on December 12, 2012. Activists from Ukraine's feminist group Femen staged a topless anti-corruption protest on Wednesday outside the ex-Soviet country's newly-elected parliament as a fight erupted between lawmakers inside. Ukraine's parliament has seen several physical confrontations in recent years amid bitter confrontation between opposition and pro-government camps. (Photo by Sergei Supinsky/AFP)
Lawmakers fight around the rostrum during the first session of Ukraine's newly elected parliament in Kiev, Ukraine, December 13, 2012. (Photo by Sergei Chuzavkov/Associated Press)
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