Hot off the presses ..... Parliament Dissolved!

Just moments ago the president of Ukraine signed a decree dissolving parliament. I can't believe he actually did it. After a long day of negotiations, the president sign the order calling for early parliamentary elections in June (the last elections were in March 2006). The parliament has just assembled--we're watching live on TV. The Communists, Socialists, and Party of the Regions are in the hall. BYuT and Our Ukraine aren't. Fortunately, they haven't assembled enough deputies to change the Constitution. Earlier today the head of the Communist party was proposing they change the Constitution and turn the president into a figurehead.

Well, we will keep you posted. And I do believe I beat the BBC to this story!

UPDATE: Early elections are supposed to be May 27. There are already crazy rumors about the parliament being attacked, whose side will the police be on, etc. Parliament--after it was dissolved--voted not to fund the new elections before they decided to go home late tonight. The prime minister then got on TV and read something. I don't understand Ukrainian very well and it is somewhat painful to listen to the prime minister read Ukrainian so I passed. Late tonight, at Maidan, BYuT and Our Ukraine political parties announced they will enter the elections as a coalition. The stage from the Saturday demonstration hadn't been torn down yet. Guess they won't tear it down now.

I suppose all this will go to the Constitutional Court and I imagine their ruling will coming quickly. The talking heads are on TV at 1:00AM making their cases.