Brian Mefford: Yatsenyuk’s ‘stay of execution’
Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk reacts prior to the no-confidence vote at the parliament in Kiev on Feb. 16. Ukraine's embattled Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk survived a no confidence vote in his government that came just hours after the president asked him to stand down. The motion to oust the pro-Western government leader collected only 194 of a required 226 votes in Ukraine's 450-seat parliament.
Yatsenyuk’s Stay of Execution: Parliament on Feb. 16 failed in its attempt to dismiss Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk. Out of 226 required votes, parliament mustered only 194 deputies in favor of firing the premier. However, Parliament did gather 247 votes to declare the work of the government as unsatisfactory. In effect, the Prime Minister has a received the equivalent of a political “stay of execution”. What does all this mean and what are the implications?