As reported in a previous post a coalition deal has been reached in Ukraine that sees Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko remain in office. The deal brings together her own party, the small Lytvyn People’s Bloc and President Yushchenko’s Our Ukraine-People’s Self-defense group, or at least some of the members of this group. Ukrainian Journal reports that the President’s group has split over the coalition deal and the supporters of the President are now in a minority.

The Our Ukraine-People’s Self-defense group has 72 seats in the Rada. Apparently, 37 voted to support the coalition agreement and 35 opposed. The President opposed the deal. The leader of the group, a presidential supporter, has now stepped down claiming that he does not have the confidence of the group’s members. A press agency is reporting that President Yushchenko is talking of expelling the members of the group who voted for the coalition.

The support from (part of) the President’s group was enough to see the coalition approved, but it may not be enough for legislation to be passed. So, Ukrainian Journal speculates that Prime Minister Tymoshenko will need the support of the pro-Russian Communist party as well.