| Possibility of disruptions due to plans by the Communist Party |
| 06 Nov 2008 |
| There is a possibility of disruptions in Ukraine on 7 November 2008 due to plans by the Communist Party of Ukraine to stage nationwide demonstrations. The actions are in response to the parliamentary approval of a US$16.5 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) -- which is intended to help Ukraine's economy weather the ongoing global economic crisis -- and will protest the policies of President Viktor Yushchenko. The protest date coincides with the anniversary of Russia's Bolshevik Revolution, which is a significant event for Communists. No details regarding plans for the demonstrations have been reported, but they will likely be more heavily concentrated in southern and eastern Ukraine, where Communist support is stronger. |
| President Viktor Yushchenko dissolved Ukraine's Parliament and called early elections. |
| 09 Oct 2008 |
| In response to an ongoing coalition crisis, on 8 October 2008 President Viktor Yushchenko dissolved Ukraine's Parliament and called early elections.
Ukraine's ruling coalition broke apart in September after Yushchenko's Our Ukraine party ended its partnership with Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko's bloc. The Parliament was given one month to form a new coalition, but despite speculation about various agreements, failed to meet the deadline. The new election will be held on 7 December. Tymoshenko had previously warned that she would contest a decision to dissolve Parliament, but is reportedly ill and has not made any public statements since the announcement.
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| Deadline for a new parliamentary coalition extended |
| 07 Oct 2008 |
| President Victor Yushchenko has reportedly extended his deadline for a new parliamentary coalition to be formed. He had originally stated that parliamentarians had until 7 October 2008 to form an agreement or he would dissolve the legislature but has since stated that they have "several more days," without giving a specific deadline. However, there appears to be some confusion over the president’s constitutional right to dissolve the body at this time. Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko has stated that the earliest possible date that the Parliament could be dissolved is 23 November, a year after parliamentarians took office following the last snap poll. Meanwhile, a member of the opposition Party of Regions has given a different date -- 15 November -- based on the same constitutional restriction. He also claimed that new elections could take place no less than two months after parliament's dissolution, or no earlier than 15 February 2008, according to his timeline.
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| Parliamentarians have until 7 October 2008 to form a new coalition |
| 06 Oct 2008 |
| Ukraine's parliamentarians have until 7 October 2008 to form a new coalition in order to avoid snap elections being called. Ukraine's ruling coalition, which was comprised of the Our Ukraine/People's Self-Defence and the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc, fell apart in September following accusations that the latter was working with the opposition Party of Regions. President Victor Yushchenko gained the constitutional right to dissolve the Parliament on 3 October, but has extended the deadline. In an address on 6 October, Yushchenko stated that he knew that "one more extraordinary election will cause chaos in the country," but called early polls the "full democratic way out of crisis." Many doubt that the a new coalition will be formed by the deadline, but an agreement between the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc, the Party of Regions and possibly some more minor parties is seen as being the most likely.
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| Ukraine's ruling coalition collapses |
| 03 Sep 2008 |
| Ukraine's ruling coalition collapsed on 3 September 2008 after the party affiliated with President Viktor Yushchenko broke off from its partnership with Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko's bloc. In response, Yushchenko has stated that he will dissolve Parliament and call new elections unless a new government is formed within 30 days. In his televised address, Yushchenko also stated that a "political and constitutional coup" is taking place, alleging that the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc had formed an alliance with the opposition Party of Regions and the communists; Tymoshenko Bloc members voted with opposition MPs on several laws that weakened the power of the president the day before.
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| Heavy rainfall causes flooding |
| 28 Jul 2008 |
| Flooding caused by heavy rainfall hit parts of Eastern Europe in the area surrounding the Carpathian Mountains over the 26-27 July 2008 weekend. Ukraine and Romania have been the most affected, but Slovak Republic and Poland have also experienced some flooding. As of 28 July, up to 26 people have been killed and approximately 32,000 others have been evacuated from their homes in Ukraine and Romania. Approximately 900 bridges have been damaged in Ukraine alone. Significant damage to roads has also been reported. Dozens of villages remain without electricity. Water levels on the Prut and Dnestr rivers remain high as heavy rainfall was expected to continue at least until 28 July.
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