The competition between the two may determine the name of a future prime minister if Our Ukraine and the Tymoshenko bloc win enough votes to form the next government.

Our Ukraine-People’s Self-defense, led by popular former Internal Affairs Minister Yuriy Lutsenko, was ahead with 15.1%, while the Tymoshenko bloc trailed behind with 14.3%, according to an opinion poll released by FOM-Ukraine two weeks ago.

This is a major change from the election on March 26, 2006, when the Tymoshenko group has won over Our Ukraine by scoring 22.27% of the vote, followed by Our Ukraine’s 13.94%.

Besides accusing the government on Saturday, Tymoshenko also attacked Our Ukraine suggesting the failure to register her group may have been secretly backed by Our Ukraine.

“It’s surprising that our political partners have failed to react to this ignoring of rights of our political group,” Tymoshenko said. “We can’t rule out that there is collusion behind our backs that may lead to unpredictable consequences in Ukraine.”

Yushchenko’s office and Our Ukraine-People’s Self-defense then quickly reacted with statements backing the Tymoshenko bloc and urging the CEC to immediately register the bloc for the election. (tl/ez)