Ukrainian President dissolves Parliament, announces early elections

KIEV, Ukraine, Aug. 25 (UPI) -- Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko announced Monday the dissolution of the Parliament amid political deadlock and early elections to be held in October.

The president made the announcement Monday, underlining that "This decision was adopted in strict accordance with article 90 of the Constitution of Ukraine."

Poroshenko had been considering the possibility of dissolving Parliament and was expected to hold discussions on the issue with senior officials on August 22, a parliament source told Interfax-Ukraine.

Poroshenko explained his decision, which he said was the result of the majority coalition in Parliament splintering on July 24. According to Ukrainian law, a new coalition must be formed within 30 days. Because that did not happen, "the Constitution authorizes the President to dissolve the Parliament. Thus," Poroshenko stated Monday, "I have used this right."

Early elections, he announced, will be held October 26 because of overwhelming support for holding them and a necessity to rid Parliament of hold-over pro-Russian sympathizers that were supporters of ousted President Viktor Yanukovych.

Polling indicates 80 percent of Ukrainians favor an early election, Poroshenko noted, adding that early elections was "one of the main demands of the Revolution of Dignity" that Yanukovych from power.

Many parliamentarians "are direct sponsors and accomplices or at least sympathizers of" Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine. Therefore, the president asserted, "We must begin purification from the highest legislative body."

"As president, I guarantee that the elections will be fair, democratic and transparent," Poroshenko vowed.