The coalition agreement is 95% ready. This was stated by Roman Zvarych, a representative of "Our Ukraine." According to him, "the second stage, that is, the distribution of spheres of responsibility, can be started later – after consultations of the leaders of political forces." Since according to the Constitution, the Cabinet of Ministers had to be formed no later than 30 days after the formation of the parliamentary majority. Based on this, soon the battles will be waged not so much over government posts as over parliamentary positions, namely – the most important position in the Verkhovna Rada – the post of speaker.
As is known, three political forces are competing for the chair of the Verkhovna Rada chairman at once – "Our Ukraine," the Socialist Party of Ukraine, and the Party of Regions (the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc is claiming the post of head of the coalition government, while the communists have taken an inert position in the distribution of posts). In particular, the main candidate from the pro-presidential party is considered to be former Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Petro Poroshenko, from the socialists – Oleksandr Moroz, and the regional representatives plan to seat Raisa Bohatyryova in the speaker's chair. It is worth noting that each political force has a chance to achieve what it wants.
As stated by the head of the information department of "Our Ukraine," Tetiana Mokridi, "three candidates for the post of chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine are being discussed in party circles." However, "Our Ukraine" members have not yet considered a possible candidate for this post, but "the party has good personnel potential." "NU" took second place in the parliamentary elections in the coalition and, accordingly, can claim the post of speaker," explained Tetiana Mokridi.
Meanwhile, Oleksandr Moroz is also not against returning to the speaker's chair. But unlike "NU," which received a larger percentage in the elections, the socialists cannot openly dictate their conditions. And here they can be helped both by the land issue, in which the socialists have so far shown principle, and by the issue of joining NATO. The latter has gained more significant weight for the Socialist Party after the events in Feodosia. Recall that on May 27, a US ship with equipment on board arrived at the port of Feodosia. According to Defense Minister Anatoliy Hrytsenko, the ship brought construction materials and equipment for completing a military training ground as part of cooperation with NATO. However, local residents, as well as representatives of the Progressive Socialist Party, the Party of Regions, and the Communist Party of Ukraine, blocked the unloading.
It is interesting that at the same time, on May 28, the "coalition trio" allegedly reached agreement on the issue of Ukraine's accession to the North Atlantic Alliance, deciding to put it to an all-Ukrainian referendum. But already on June 2, after the scandal in Feodosia, the socialists proposed removing the NATO clause from the coalition agreement, which the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc and "NU" are unlikely to agree to. In such a situation, the socialists receive another lever of pressure (besides the land issue) on the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc and "NU": in exchange for further participation in the coalition, the Socialist Party of Ukraine may demand the speaker's chair. Of course, "Our Ukraine" members will be categorically against it. But that is what bargaining is for, so that each of its participants drives up the price of their goods.
Another option is also not excluded. As is known, the main contender for the post of parliament chairman from the "white-and-blue" is Raisa Bohatyryova. According to the Constitution and in accordance with the regulations of parliamentary work, candidates for the post of speaker are proposed at a plenary session by deputy factions or people's deputies. In addition, any Verkhovna Rada deputy has the right to propose their candidacy for this post. The candidate who receives a majority of parliamentarians' votes from the constitutional composition of the Verkhovna Rada is considered elected. Accordingly, the Party of Regions can propose its candidate, but the regional representatives can gather 226 votes only if their candidate is supported not only by the communists but also by some deputies from other factions. The Party of Regions can also find the missing number of votes among the socialists. In particular, the recent statement by regional representative Yevhen Kushnaryov that "on the NATO issue they will be supported by both the communists and the socialists" testifies to the convergence of positions of these two political forces. It is not excluded that if the socialists do not find a compromise with "NU" and the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc, they may support the Party of Regions. And not only on the NATO issue.
According to political scientist Vadym Karasiov, precisely because the situation around the creation of the coalition is becoming more acute, the coalition will not be created on time – by June 7. The expert also emphasized that "the process is being dragged out for an indefinite period." And the only one who can somehow influence the timeline for forming the coalition remains the president. It was Viktor Yushchenko, according to the political scientist, who was supposed to make a historic decision by making his "coalition choice."
If the agreement on creating a majority in the Verkhovna Rada is still not signed in the near future, then the vote on the speaker candidate will be "free," and the fate of the future parliament chairman may be decided right in the session hall.