Yatsenyuk - resigning yesterday - as speaker was second in line for the presidency and his independent stance in opposition to Yushchenko's policy represented a threat to the Yushchenko team. With Yatsenyuk out of the way the President's position is a little stronger as there is no longer any immediate alternative to Yushchenko from a Our Ukraine perspective. If Yushchenko is forced from Office then the current speaker of the parliament, from PoR, will become president until and if new presidential elections are held.
