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Ukraine's largest party urges referendum on early polls

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The parliamentary faction of Ukraine's largest Party of Regions said Thursday the nation should decide on early parliamentary as well as presidential polls via a referendum.
KIEV, May 3 (RIA Novosti) - The parliamentary faction of Ukraine's largest Party of Regions said Thursday the nation should decide on early parliamentary as well as presidential polls via a referendum.

"Given that none of the presidents had ever shown such disrespect for the Constitution and that [President Viktor] Yushchenko will not resign on his own accord, I propose appealing to Ukrainians and holding a national referendum in line with the Constitution," party member Vasiliy Kiselev said.

Ukraine has been locked in a political crisis since Yushchenko disbanded parliament and called early parliamentary elections in two decrees April 2 and 26 over the defection of pro-presidential lawmakers to the majority coalition controlled by Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych's Party of Regions.

Yushchenko has also dismissed two judges in the Constitutional Court, which is examining the legality of the initial presidential decree, following an inquiry by the defiant Supreme Rada. The court ruling was widely expected to be in Yanukovych's favor, and suggestions were made that the president should resign if the Court decision went against Yushchenko.

The coalition accused the president of plans "to disrupt the work of the Constitutional Court" and qualified the dismissals, which the presidential press office said were over "oath violations," as a "coup attempt." Yanukovych's allies also said the move had left no room for a compromise.

The Supreme Rada voted Monday to hold presidential elections along with parliamentary polls no later than December 9. But at least 300 votes are needed to change the Constitution to clear the way for presidential polls. Only 254 lawmakers are currently working after pro-presidential factions quit the disbanded parliament April 19.

Tensions in the ex-Soviet state have persisted since Yanukovych came to power as premier after the March 2006 parliamentary elections, following his defeat by Yushchenko in the 2004 contested presidential election.

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