The coalition - which comprises the pro-Russia Party of Regions, the Socialist Party and the Communist Party and holds 240 of the Supreme Rada's 450 seats - formally came into effect after a previous coalition deal between the West-leaning trio of the Tymoshenko Bloc, Our Ukraine and the Socialists signed June 22 expired.
Under the constitution, Yanukovych's candidature will be presented to President Viktor Yushchenko, who has 15 days to take it back to the parliament. Ukraine's parliament cannot appoint a prime minister unless the candidate is first recommended to parliament by the president.
Ukraine has been in a crisis with fighting in the Supreme Rada and protestors on the streets following the collapse of the former parliamentary coalition and the emergence of a new "anti-crisis" coalition led by the Party of Regions.
And today supporters of the bloc led by former premier Yulia Tymoshenko and the Pora party took to the streets again in an attempt to block approaches to the Supreme Rada, demanding the dissolution of the parliament and the holding of new parliamentary elections.
