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| Ukrainian government survives no-confidence vote amid infighting | Ukrainian government survives no-confidence vote amid infighting |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Ukrainian government has survived a no-confidence vote, despite severe criticism from a majority of MPs. | |
| The vote reflected political tensions amid economic problems that have eroded public support for the cabinet of prime minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk. The failure to pass the parliamentary motion reflected MPs’ fears that it could cause the collapse of the ruling coalition and lead to early elections. | |
| Related: The Guardian view on Ukraine’s crisis: take the long view | Editorial | Related: The Guardian view on Ukraine’s crisis: take the long view | Editorial |
| President Petro Poroshenko had earlier called on the embattled prime minister to resign and for a new cabinet to be appointed. | President Petro Poroshenko had earlier called on the embattled prime minister to resign and for a new cabinet to be appointed. |
| “The tension between the government and the factions has become so high that it poses a threat to the coalition’s functioning,” Poroshenko said in a statement. | “The tension between the government and the factions has become so high that it poses a threat to the coalition’s functioning,” Poroshenko said in a statement. |
| Yatsenyuk defended his cabinet’s performance during a raucous debate, saying that “hatred and anger are not emotions which should unite the political class”. | Yatsenyuk defended his cabinet’s performance during a raucous debate, saying that “hatred and anger are not emotions which should unite the political class”. |
| The motion received 194 votes, falling short of the 226 required to oust the cabinet. | |
| Poroshenko and Yatsenyuk are keen to avoid snap elections because both of their parties have fallen in recent opinion polls as public frustration has mounted with the government’s lack of progress. The blocs led by the prime minister and the presidential faction are the largest in parliament and they – along with a collection of other political fractions – have been in a tug-of-war for influence. | |
| Yatsenyuk became prime minister after the country’s Russia-friendly president was chased from power in February 2014 following massive protests. Poroshenko was elected several months later with widespread support and a seal of approval from western leaders. | Yatsenyuk became prime minister after the country’s Russia-friendly president was chased from power in February 2014 following massive protests. Poroshenko was elected several months later with widespread support and a seal of approval from western leaders. |
| However, a string of very public spats between Ukrainian lawmakers, often involving members of Yatsenyuk’s and Poroshenko’s blocs, have strained the public patience and eroded the confidence of the west. | |
| Last week, IMF managing director Christine Lagarde threatened to halt the delivery of Ukraine’s $17.5bn aid package that the country is counting on to keep the economy afloat. | Last week, IMF managing director Christine Lagarde threatened to halt the delivery of Ukraine’s $17.5bn aid package that the country is counting on to keep the economy afloat. |