BBC Monitoring Service

Yuliya Tymoshenko, the leader of the second largest faction in the Ukrainian parliament, has condemned the new parliamentary majority as an alliance of leftists and "mobsters", which won’t last long.

In a brief live appearance on the Ukrainian ICTV television’s "Freedom of  Speech" talk show on 7 July, Tymoshenko said: "Unfortunately, a different coalition has now been created. But it won't last long – for a number of reasons. First, to unite incompatible things – Communism and doubled-dyed clans – into one team. A coalition of Communists, Socialists and mobsters won’t last long because this country will sense the insincerity and the total absence of any strategic thing. I know for sure that our team won't allow Ukraine to be raped so easily."

She ruled out her faction’s participation in a broad coalition with the Party of Regions. She said her bloc would favour a repeat election or would go into the opposition.

"A broad coalition is a broad grave for democracy and broad grave for Ukraine’s sovereignty, and therefore, our political force won’t enter into any broad coalitions. We will be either in the opposition or, if the law and the constitution allow this, we will undoubtedly favour an early election.

True, it is hard. Everyone is tired. I know that when people watch this coalition race, they simply spit at their televisions or switch them off or change channels. They are amazed to see what scum all these politicians are," Tymoshenko said.

"I don’t want to be in that camp, and therefore, we are either in the opposition – an honest opposition which does not wag its tail from left to right – or indeed we will fight in a new election so that people could understand that a new election means a new election with cleansing, now knowing the true face of politicians."