2008 Ukrainian political crisis

Ukraine is once again facing a new political crisis with the Parliament unable to work with disagreement over the governments proposal for Ukraine to join NATO Membership Action Plan and members of the president's own political party Our Ukraine resigning to setup a new political party in Ukraine

==Resignation from "Our Ukraine" Party==
A number of senior members of the president's political party, Our Ukraine, have resigned their membership and mandate creating the grounds for anther political crisis and possible early elections in Ukraine. The members that have resigned include Viktor Baloha, Head of the President's Secretariat and Roman Bezsmertny, deputy head of the President’s Secretariat along with People’s deputies, Mykhaylo Polyanchych, Ihor Kryl, Viktor Topolov, Oksana Bilozir and Vasyl Petevka..

Ukraine unable to hold its regular parliamentary session
The Ukrainian parliament headed by chairman Arseniy Yatsenyuk has been unable to hold its regular parliamentary session following the decision of the Parliamentary Opposition to prevent the parliament from functioning. The parliament was blocked from 25 January 2008 till March 4 2008 (at 29 February 2008 factions leaders agreed on a protocol of mutual understanding).. Under the terms of Ukraine's Constitution, Article 90, if the regular parliamentary sessions are unable to commence within 30 days the president has the authority to dismiss the parliament. However the president's authority is restricted as Ukraine's constitution also prevents the Parliament from being dismissed with 12 months of any early elections. The last parliamentary election in Ukraine was held on September 30, 2007.

Government's proposal for Ukraine to join NATO Membership Action Plan

The determination of Ukraine's Opposition to prevent the holding of its parliamentary session in February, 2008 was made following the government's decisions to apply for membership of NATO and its agreement to particpate in the NATO Membership Action Plan without the Parliament's or public's consent. Public opinion in Ukraine is opposed to Ukraine joining NATO and a petition of over 2 million signatures has called for a referendum on Ukraine's membership proposal to join NATO. The opposition claim that that a letter sent to the NATO Secretary General by the Goverment had ursurped authority and power from the people of Ukraine and that the government had no right to request that Ukraine be included in a programme "road map" for NATO membership. The opposition have called for a national referendum to be held on any steps towards further involvement with NATO and has also called for fresh parliamentary elections.

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