MEMBER ASSEMBLY. OUR UKRAINE FORMALLY ENDORSED THE DEAL ON WEDNESDAY, BUT POINTEDLY SAID NO DECISION HAD BEEN MADE ON THE PREMIER'S JOB. "WE BELIEVE A POLITICALLY RESPONSIBLE COALITION IS CREATED BY A JOINT VISION ON THE COUNTRY'S DEVELOPMENT AND NOT BY HANDING OUT GOVERNMENT JOBS," THE PARTY SAID IN A STATEMENT. AT THE ELECTION, THE OPPOSITION REGIONS PARTY WON THE MOST SEATS, BUT WAS OUTSCORED BY THE COMBINED LIBERAL VOTE. TYMOSHENKO SAYS SHE IS ENTITLED TO LEAD A GOVERNMENT AS HER BLOC BEAT OUR UKRAINE TO FINISH FIRST AMONG "ORANGE" GROUPS. SHE SAYS OUR UKRAINE IS STALLING, POSSIBLY TO PURSUE AN ALLIANCE WITH THE REGIONS, WHICH IS MORE SYMPATHETIC TO MOSCOW. A TOP OFFICIAL FROM OUR UKRAINE HAS DENIED ANY SUCH INTENTION. TYMOSHENKO STOOD ALONGSIDE YUSHCHENKO DURING PROTESTS IN LATE 2004 THAT HELPED HIM WIN OFFICE DESPITE ELECTION FRAUD. YUSHCHENKO NAMED HER PRIME MINISTER UNDER AN ELECTION PACT, BUT SACKED HER LESS THAN EIGHT MONTHS LATER TO END INFIGHTING. AS PREMIER, TYMOSHENKO WORRIED INVESTORS OVER ATTEMPTS TO CONTROL MARKETS AND CALLS FOR A BROAD REVIEW OF PRIVATISATIONS. REGIONS PARTY LEADER VIKTOR YANUKOVICH WON THE 2004 POLL, BUT THE RESULT WAS ANNULLED. HIS PARTY'S SCORE AMOUNTED TO A COMEBACK, LEADING TO SUGGESTIONS THAT SOME OUR UKRAINE LEADERS WOULD RATHER TEAM UP WITH HIM THAN SEE TYMOSHENKO BACK IN POWER.
