The second Tymoshenko Government was appointed on 18 December 2007 as a coalition between Bloc of Yulia Tymoshenko (BYuT) and Our Ukraine-People's Self-Defense Bloc (OU-PSD), OU-PSD is the party of then-President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko, following the 2007 Ukrainian parliamentary election. The government program was named: "Ukrainian breakthrough: for people, not for politicians". Speech of the Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko (Government Press service, January 16, 2008)
On 17 December 2008 Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko announced a reshuffle of the cabinet after the forming of a BYuT, OU-PSD and Bloc of Lytvyn coalitionThree factions sign coalition agreement, Kyiv Post (December 16, 2008) following the 2008 Ukrainian political crisis.Ukraine's Cabinet will be reshuffled given coalition formation, says Tymoshenko, Interfax-Ukraine (17 December 2008) On March 3, 2010 the Ukrainian Parliament passed a motion of no confidence in the second Tymoshenko Government.Ukraine parliament votes out Tymoshenko's government , Kyiv Post (March 3, 2010) A day before that the coalition had already lost the parliamentary majority. On March 11, 2010 the First Azarov Government was elected.Ukraine's new government puts final nail in coffin of the Orange Revolution, The Guardian (March 11, 2010)
Since its dismissal several Ministers of the second Tymoshenko Government have been involved in criminal proceedings against them; the most noticeable outcomes of this were the imprisonments of former Prime Minister Tymoshenko and Interior Minister Yuriy Lutsenko.Ukraine President Viktor Yanukovych pardons Yulia Tymoshenko allies, BBC News (8 April 2013)Ukrainian leader Yanukovych pardons Tymoshenko ally, BBC News (7 April 2013)Ukrainian president pardons Lutsenko and Filipchuk – decree, Interfax-Ukraine (7 April 2013)
Creation The appointment of the government of Ukraine was scheduled for the December 11, 2007.Проект Постанови про призначення Ю.В. Тимошенко Прем'єр-міністром України The session was opened late due to awaiting of the President of Ukraine who after arriving was giving the first word."Stenograma" December 11, 2007 At first there were 271 parliamentarians registered that morning with only Party of Regions and four people's deputies from the Communist Party being absent.Поіменне голосування про включення до порядку денного питання щодо призначення членів Кабінету Міністрів України та зміну розгляду питань, що визначенні ст.16 Регламенту Верховної Ради України During the voting for the appointment, however, the rest of the Communist Party and Lytvyn Bloc were absent together with Ivan Plyushch from Our Ukraine–People's Self-Defense Bloc. Beside that for some reason the electronic counting system of the parliament seemed to malfunction and did not count votes of two parliamentarians showing only 225 approving votes.
The creation of the new cabinet was rescheduled on December 18, but the political parties Party of Regions, Communist Party of Ukraine, and Lytvyn Bloc completely boycotted that session registering zero representatives from their parties. Only 227 people's deputies registered that day and there were five issues on agenda during that session: a) appointment of the Prime Minister of Ukraine, b) dismissal of the Prime Minister of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych, c) dissolution of the current Cabinet of Ministers, d) formation of the new Cabinet of Ministers, e) an early termination of powers for parliamentarians elected to the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. The voting on the first issue was decided to conduct without the parliamentary electronic counting system "Rada". The counting of votes started at 11 o'clock in the morning and was finished at 11:40 during the whole procedure it was found that one parliamentarian from Our Ukraine–People's Self-Defense Bloc was missing. At 12:30 the head of the counting commission Mykola Shershun announced the results.
+FactionNumber of deputiesForAgainstAbstainedDidn't voteAbsent Party of Regions Faction 172 0 0 0 0 172 Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc 156 156 0 0 0 0 Our Ukraine–People's Self-Defense Bloc 72 70 0 1 0 1 Communist Party of Ukraine Faction 27 0 0 0 0 27 Lytvyn Bloc 20 0 0 0 0 20 All factions 450 226 0 1 0 220+
Before voting for his dismissal as the Prime Minister of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych gave a speech (below is end of it):
The voting on the next issues was continued to be conducted without the utilization of the electronic counting system by showing hands. For the dismissal of Yanukovych all 226 parliamentarians registered in the session hall voted approvingly.Проект Постанови про звільнення Януковича В.Ф. з посади Прем'єр-міністра України The same results were obtained for the dismissal of the current Cabinet of Ministers. For the appointment of the new government 227 parliamentarians raised their hands that afternoon.Оперативна інформація про результати розгляду питань на пленарному засіданні Верховної Ради України 18 грудня 2007 року
Events
18 March 2009 the Cabinet of Ministers halved the salaries of the Prime Minister and all other ministers from 1 April 2009, to 1 January 2010 to fight the current economic crises of Ukraine.Cabinet Of Ministers Halves Salaries Of Ministers Until 2010 , Ukrainian News Agency (March 18, 2009)
On 18 June 2009 Parliament Speaker and leader of Bloc of Lytvyn Volodymyr Lytvyn stated that his party is not seeking posts in the Cabinet of Ministers even though at the time there were three posts vacant and the Transport and Communications Minister Yosyp Vinskyi turned in his resignation one day earlier. According to Lytvyn he had no intention of changing this position because he valued voters.Lytvyn Bloc Not Seeking Posts In Cabinet Of Ministers , Ukrainian News Agency (June 18, 2009)
On 26 June 2009 Prime Minister Tymoshenko nominated Oleksandr Klymenko for coal minister, Mykhailo Zgurovsky and Yuriy Liubonenko for vice premiers, Fedir Yaroshenko for finance minister, Tariel Vasafze for transport and communications minister, and Viktor Shemchuk for justice minister.Government asking parliament to speed up consideration of staff issues, Ukrinform (August 31, 2009)
On 16 November 2009 First Vice Prime Minister Oleksander Turchinov stated that the government's vacant ministerial posts could be filled only after the upcoming presidential elections.First vice premier: Vacant posts of ministers could be filled only after presidential elections, Kyiv Post (November 16, 2009)
Fall Newly elected President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych wanted to oust the current Cabinet and form a new Cabinet with his Party of Regions after his election on 7 February 2010.Ukraine: Tymoshenko vows to contest election result, BBC News (February 15, 2010)Yanukovych has yet to secure ruling majority in parliament, Kyiv Post (February 25, 2010) On February 20, 2010 Parliament Speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn stated he would announce the dissolution of the coalition the next plenary week if its activity by then was not confirmed in documents. On February 17 Lytvyn had asked the coalition to provide within ten days documents that confirmed its existence, in particular, a list of at least 226 Members of Parliament who are members. Lytvyn stated that it was possible to ensure "the effectiveness of the current coalition" or create a new coalition in parliament.Parliament speaker could announce coalition dissolution next plenary week, Kyiv Post (February, 2010) Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko stated on February 22 she was holding negotiation "to unite in the Verkhovna Rada the democratic and pro-Ukrainian forces, all rational deputies of Our Ukraine–People's Self-Defense Bloc, the Lytvyn Bloc and Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc". If the current Cabinet could not be preserved Tymoshenko has stated she would go into Parliamentary opposition.Yulia Tymoshenko's address to the people of Ukraine , Yulia Tymoshenko official website (February 22, 2010) During a Cabinet of Ministers meeting on February 24, 2010 Tymoshenko stated “I am certain that Our Ukraine group leaders ... will stand firmly in the defense of Ukraine and everything Ukrainian. I am certain that these leaders will not change their ideology or beliefs and join a majority coalition led by Party of Regions” (the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc or Our Ukraine–People's Self-Defense Bloc faction where needed to form a new coalition).Tymoshenko fights on, refuses to recognize Yanukovych win, Kyiv Post (February 25, 2010) On February 24 Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada (Ukraine's parliament) Volodymyr Lytvyn received a document that had been drafted by the Party of Regions faction that had been submitted for examination by all factions, except the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc, according to the Party of Regions the document was not the draft of a new coalition agreement but "a document submitted to the head of the Lytvyn Bloc faction in the process of talks so that he can consider this draft and we proposed that our colleagues consider this coalition agreement and make their amendments and remarks, if they deem it necessary".Lytvyn says he has draft of new coalition agreement, Kyiv Post (February 24, 2010)
On 2 March 2010 Chairman Lytvyn announced in parliament that the government had collapsed “In line with the constitution of Ukraine ... I announce that the coalition in parliament has ceased its activity".Assembly speaker: Ukraine's ruling coalition collapses, Kyiv Post (March 2, 2010) 37 (of the 55) Our Ukraine–People's Self-Defense Bloc faction members had voted for the continuation of the coalition.OU-PSD faction leader not planning to submit signatures on coalition's existence to speaker, Kyiv Post (March 2, 2010) Ivan Kyrylenko, leader of the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc faction, blamed the Lytvyn Bloc for the collapse of the coalitionBloc of Yulia Tymoshenko blames Lytvyn Bloc for parliamentary coalition collapse, Kyiv Post (March 2, 2010) and according to Prime Minister Tymoshenko "The coalition was disbanded illegally", she also blamed the Lytvyn Bloc and "Our Ukraine, including the leader of Our Ukraine who announced the position of the faction".Tymoshenko: Dissolution of parliamentary coalition illegal, Kyiv Post (March 2, 2010)
On 1 March 2010 Prime Minister Tymoshenko demanded a vote of no confidence in the government in parliament.Tymoshenko demands parliament should consider her government's dismissal on March 2, Kyiv Post (March 1, 2010) Ukraine's parliament held a vote of no confidence in the government on March 3, 2010,Ukraine to hold no confidence vote in government on Wednesday, Kyiv Post (March 1, 2010) in which the cabinet was dismissed with 243 lawmakers voting in favour out of the 450. Before the vote and on March 3 Prime Minister Tymoshenko stated "If the dismissal of the government is passed today, at that very same moment our government will leave the cabinet. Our political force will cross into the opposition".Tymoshenko says cabinet won't stay on as caretaker, Kyiv Post (March 3, 2010)Tymoshenko: Government members will immediately leave offices after Rada's decision on cabinet dismissal, Kyiv Post (March 3, 2010)
Until a new coalition was formed the government remained in place, as acting ministers;Factbox: Long road to a new Ukrainian coalition and government, Kyiv Post (March 1, 2010) thus the ministers stayed on till March 11, 2010 when the First Azarov Government was elected.
Achievements According to Tymoshenko, the protection of Ukraine from financial and economic collapse amid the global crisis is the main achievement of the work of the government she had led.Tymoshenko: Government has managed to protect country from financial and economic collapse, Kyiv Post (March 3, 2010) On 13 May 2010, Prime Minister Mykola Azarov claimed that ninety percent of decisions taken by the second Tymoshenko government had not been implemented in Ukraine.Azarov slams execution of government resolutions in Ukraine, Kyiv Post (May 13, 2010)