(VOVworld) – The Ukrainian government on Tuesday survived a no-confidence vote as only 186 members of Parliament voted in favor of a resolution to censure the government of Prime Minister Mykola Azarov. The minimum number of votes need to pass the resolution was 226.

No-confidence vote in Ukraine fails. Photo: internet

The results confirmed earlier forecasts as representatives of Ukraine’s ruling Party of the Regions and the Communist Party did not participate in the no-confidence vote. The results triggered a strong protest by opposition representatives and President Volodymyr Rubak had to adjourn the meeting much earlier than scheduled. 

3 opposition parties asked Ukraine’s Parliament to conduct the no-confidence vote after President Victor Yanukovich refused to sign an association and trade agreement with the European Union some days ago. This spurred thousands of people to protest the decision. According to the Ukrainian Parliament’s rules, having survived this no-confidence vote, Prime Minister Azarov’s government can not face another no-confidence vote until the next parliament session, scheduled for February, 2014.