A key Ukrainian politician, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, declined President Viktor Yanukovych's proposal to hold a high post in the new cabinet, the presidential press office said on Tuesday.
"I have proposed Arseniy Yatsenyuk a high post in the future government, which I believe is to be formed in the next few days. But Yatsenyuk declined and said he should move to the opposition. I believe this will be a constructive opposition which won't harm the country," Yanukovych was quoted by his press office as saying.
Yatsenyuk disapproved of an amendment adopted on March 9 which enables independent MPs to take part in forming a majority coalition, so far a privilege of parliamentary factions.
However Yanukovych insists on creating a ruling coalition without calling fresh parliamentary elections. According to Yanukovych, Ukraine cannot afford early parliamentary elections because the prolonged political instability would provoke a worsening of the economic crisis in the country.
Earlier this week, Yanukovych said he was considering the ex-parliament speaker, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, a leader of Yanukovych's Party of Regions, Mykola Azarov, and banker Sergei Tigipko to be the main candidates for prime minister.
KIEV, March 9
RIA Novosti