A top Ukrainian court on Wednesday struck down as unconstitutional the October date set by parliament for the next presidential election, plunging the former Soviet republic into a new bout of political uncertainty. President Viktor Yushchenko, swept to power by mass "Orange Revolution" rallies but now highly unpopular, had challenged the October 25 date in the Constitutional Court, saying the election should not take place until early next year.
The parliament, in a rare moment of unity, voted overwhelmingly to hold the election more than three months earlier than anticipated. The vote appeared to be a defensive move to prevent the president from dissolving the chamber - illegal in the last six months before an election. Yushchenko attempted last year to dissolve the chamber and hold a snap parliamentary poll.
In its ruling, announced by its chairman, the court offered no new possible date for a presidential contest. But it appeared to back the president's position, saying that under the constitution, amended during the turmoil of the "orange" rallies in 2004 against vote-rigging, the poll should take place in the last month of the fifth year of his mandate.
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