The FINANCIAL -- Ukraine may hold early parliamentary elections in 2011, the director of Ukrainian independent think tank Institute of Global Strategies said, according to RIA Novosti.

Speaking at a news conference in Donetsk, the expert said the year 2012 may be difficult for the Ukrainian economy due to the European football championship (to be hosted by Poland and Ukraine ), so the pro-presidential Party of Regions will not benefit from holding the elections in 2012.

"In this case, the Party of Regions and the authorities will have to prevent a [possible] economic and social crisis from coinciding with the electoral calendar," Vadim Karasyov said.

"Early elections may be held either in spring, or in autumn 2011," the expert said, adding that there was a 50 percent cahnce of early elections.

He said members of the ruling coalition will be forced to hold early elections if the economic situation in the country, which is currently struggling to recover from recession, continues to worsen.

"Then they will have to change the electoral calendar in favor of 2011, [and] hold the elections. This parliament would stay in power until 2015, and the [next] presidential elections will be held under this parliament," Karasyov went on.

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