The Ukrainian Parliament today adopted a draft law (No 6137) in its final reading on changes to the parliamentary procedure. It was adopted by a total of 235 MPs. The proposed changes will allow for the parliamentary coalition to be formed on the basis of a simple majority of MPs. During today’s debate MPs from the factions of the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc and the Our Ukraine People’s Self-Defence Bloc spoke against adopting the bill in its final reading, arguing that it was anti-constitutional and would divide Parliament.

Former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko has said she will unite the country's democratic forces in opposition to the incumbent authorities. Tymoshenko was speaking on the "Shuster Live" talk show on the Ukrayina TV channel on the evening of March 5. "I will unite all democratic forces in the opposition. I will spare no effort to do this," Tymoshenko said, adding that they "will be defending the country in opposition". Speaking about the talks on formation of the new parliamentary coalition, she said "they blatantly violate the law".

Ukrainian parliamentary speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn has predicted that a new Cabinet of Ministers will be appointed by Parliament in the coming plenary week.

The Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc has appealed to the Constitutional Court against the bill that cancelled local elections in Ukraine, the bloc's press service said today.

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has appointed Party of Regions MP Olena Lukash a deputy head of the presidential administration.

MP Serhiy Sobolev of the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc has said that President Viktor Yanukovych and his team have taken three steps towards a coup and usurping of power in Parliament.

The Ukrainian Parliament has adopted a draft law (No 6137) on changes to the parliamentary procedure. The draft was initiated by two MPs from the Party of Regions and adopted today in the first reading by 229 MPs. Parliament also decided to speed up preparation of this bill for the second and final readings.