Western-oriented President Viktor Yushchenko called the elections May 27 after striking a deal with Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, his rival since the 2004 "orange revolution," in a bid to defuse a protracted political crisis in the ex-Soviet state.
"The opposition forces have already reached an agreement, stating that in the event of an election victory they will form a ruling coalition, and if it is not a winning outcome, then Our Ukraine and [ex-prime minister] Yulia Tymoshenko's bloc will act together as the opposition in a new parliament," Vyacheslav Kyrylenko said.
Kyrylenko said Our Ukraine planned to stand for parliament in an election bloc with two other parties. The decision on the bloc will be taken shortly, he said.
But he reiterated that the party would not join forces with Yanukovych's Party of Regions or other members in the current majority coalition in parliament, the Socialist Party and the Communists.
Experts say the Party of Regions and the bloc headed by Yulia Tymoshenko, Yushchenko's fiery ally in the 2004 popular uprising that swept him to power leaving Yanukovych behind, are expected to be front runners in the elections.
Ukraine has been rocked by a power struggle between Yushchenko, who has pledged to bring the country EU and NATO membership, and the more Russia-friendly Yanukovych, who returned to politics last year, after his party won the majority of seats in parliament forming the ruling coalition.
The latest crisis broke out when Yushchenko moved to dismiss the legislature after the defection of 11 opposition members to the ruling coalition in early April.
