Ukraine President, PM differ on snap election

KIEV, May 22 (Reuters) Ukraine plunged into new political uncertainty today, its pro-Western president vowing to announce an election date soon, while his prime minister rival suggested the poll might make matters worse.

President Viktor Yushchenko has been engaged in a long debate on the timing of a snap parliamentary poll with Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich, the opponent he beat in 2004 after weeks of ''Orange Revolution'' rallies in his favour.

At odds over the division of powers, they have met several times since Yushchenko issued two decrees last month dissolving parliament and calling an election. Differences now focus on timing: the president wants a vote as soon as possible while the prime minister wants to wait until the autumn.

''Let me just say that the Ukrainian people and world public opinion will learn the date of the early election this week,'' Yushchenko said on a visit to central Ukraine.

He later told a news conference that he and Yanukovich, closer to Moscow in outlook, had reached general agreement on how to hoist the ex-Soviet state out of its long-running crisis.

But Yanukovich said he wanted evidence that the election was the best legal solution to end months of deadlock as his cabinet worked to boost wages, pensions and living standards.

''In other words, we must make matters such that Ukraine emerges stronger from an early election,'' he said in a televised address to the nation of 47 million.

''If we cannot do so, if an early election on the contrary hits living standards, then we have to think hard. Does Ukraine need such an election? This is the question that we all need to answer in the near future.'' SETTING THE DATE The president's chief of staff, Viktor Baloga, said the date had to be decided this week to enable all parties to take part.

He said the date of June 24 set down in the president's second decree remained in force, though Yushchenko was prepared to put back the date to enable necessary changes to be adopted.

The prime minister says it is impractical to hold the poll before autumn. Commentators say September is most likely.

Opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko, Yushchenko's first prime minister before she fell out with him for a time, urged the president to halt all talks and proceed with the June 24 date.

In his remarks, Yushchenko said a group of experts had nearly completed its task of drawing up legislation for the early poll. New talks with the group and Yanukovich would take place tomorrow.

But Yanukovich said procedures were more complicated.

Changes to laws had to be followed by constitutional amendments, all to be approved by parliament and the Constitutional Court.

Yanukovich initially ignored the president's decrees and asked the Constitutional Court to assess them. Both men pledged for a time to abide by any ruling and later agreed to hold an election, with procedures and a date to be worked out later.

The Constitutional Court began examining the legality of the second decree yesterday. But Yushchenko said he had launched legal proceedings to prevent the court from further activity.

Recent opinion polls show the two camps in a virtual dead heat, each with about 40 percent support.

Yushchenko beat Yanukovich in the rerun of a rigged 2004 presidential election after weeks of rallies and has promoted NATO and European Union membership and liberal economics.

REUTERS KK PM0155