There is no more time for talk, Mr. Litvin stressed. "We have received the worst possible result in the process of electing a new president, both in political and psychological terms," he remarked.
The government underestimated the populace, thinking they would humbly obey whatever decisions it may impose on them, pointed out the Supreme Rada Speaker. He said the presidential election would be impossible to invalidate unless appropriate amendments were introduced to the election law. A rerun of the vote is an option, but only provided that Viktor Yanukovich, declared the winner by the Central Electoral Commission, gives his consent, he said. And for the Supreme Rada to be able to choose between the two candidates, the Constitution will have to be amended, he added.
The partial transfer of authority from the President to the Prime Minister will take constitutional change, too, Mr. Litvin said. The opposition challenger, Viktor Yushchenko, could then become President, with the pro-government candidate, Viktor Yanukovich, retaining his current position as Premier, but with broader powers, he explained.
Vladimir Litvin indicated that all of his proposals were political ones and should be put up for discussion in the Supreme Rada. And he invited the MPs to come out with any ideas they may have on the way out of the crisis.
One other option will be to wait for the Supreme Court to make a decision, Mr. Litvin said. In this case, however, it is important to bear in mind that the Supreme Court is in no position to invalidate the polls throughout the nation, but may only declare the voting null and void in some of the constituencies."
As Mr. Litvin sees it, the political crisis in Ukraine has now reached a stalemate. The government has lost its control over things while the public has not yet gained any; this creates a near-revolutionary situation, the Parliament Speaker said.
Vladimir Litvin accused both candidates of running election campaigns along the principle "the loser takes it all," and insisted on a negotiated, non-violent solution to the crisis.
According to Mr. Litvin, the question now is not "Who will be the next President?", but "Will the Ukrainian State survive?"
Some of the Ukrainian MPs are calling on their colleagues to stay in the Rada headquarters until the opposition camp's ultimatum is acted upon. Others are urging to stop political pressure on the Parliament and the Supreme Court.
Thousands of Viktor Yushchenko's supporters continue their rally outside the Parliament building. Outdoor TV screens have been installed for them to see what is going on inside.
