KYIV, Apr. 6 (Ukrainian News) – At a meeting with President Leonid Kuchma on Thursday, representatives of the Federation of Ukrainian Trade Unions expressed their support for the government of Prime Minister Viktor Yushchenko.
The federation includes 66 trade unions, which boast a 14.5 million-strong membership.
According to the federation’s leader Oleksandr Stoyan, the support was justified by the economic growth achieved last year and the consequent improvement in the lives of Ukrainians.
“The federation believes that the current government headed by Viktor Yushchenko deserves much of the credit for the fact that positive changes have started,” Stoyan said.
Stoyan further said that the Cabinet of Ministers has demonstrated its professionalism and called on the parliament to take this into consideration when considering any motion of no-confidence in the Cabinet.
“We support the current government and we are calling on people’s deputies to take this position into consideration when considering the government’s report,” Stoyan said.
Despite stressing the fact that Yushchenko sometimes prevents him from dismissing certain cabinet ministers, Kuchma said that Yushchenko would be dismissed only in extreme circumstances.
“We need stability, government stability,” Kuchma said.
Parliament is scheduled to hear the government’s annual report on April 17.
Several pro-presidential parliamentary factions recently threatened to initiate a vote of no-confidence in Yushchenko’s government, whose adoption would result in the present government’s automatic resignation.
