Party exit risks early elections

Ukraine’s ruling coalition collapsed after the People’s Front pulled out, undermining the chances of President-elect Volodymyr Zelenskiy to trigger early elections.

The maneuver underscored a new struggle for power in the former Soviet republic, which has taken on global significance as the front-line in the battle for influence between Russia and the West since 2014 protests ousted Kremlin-backed leader Viktor Yanukovych and Russia annexed Crimea.

Zelenskiy, a 41-year-old comedian with no previous political experience, tapped into widespread anger over government corruption to defeat incumbent Petro Poroshenko in a landslide victory last month. He’s called to be sworn in “as fast as possible” to avoid a power vacuum after saying he’d consider dissolving parliament and holding a snap general ballot before the regularly scheduled vote in October.

But the People’s Front effectively dashed the chances of an early vote. Its withdrawal from the coalition gives parties 30 days to assemble a new ruling majority — a period that means Zelenskiy will miss the deadline for calling early elections, which can only happen more than six months before parliament’s term expires.

“The new circumstances demand a maximum consolidation of forces in parliament,” People’s Front parliamentary group chief Maksym Burbak said Friday in a speech to the assembly. “A new president, a new agenda, a new coalition.”

Burbak said that talks to form a new coalition should begin immediately and the regular parliamentary elections should be held Oct. 27. Zelenskiy’s inauguration is set for Monday.

Zelenskiy promised to “break the system” of Ukrainian politics by cracking down on corruption. It’s a problem that has hampered the country’s cooperation with the International Monetary Fund after Poroshenko and his allies in government failed to enact laws demanded by the rescue lender.