KIEV’S fragile facade of democracy fell apart today in a performance which left the country’s discredited parliament in tatters.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk announced his resignation after two parties said they would pull out of the governing coalition.

The neofascist Svoboda party and the Udar party led by Vitali Klitschko pulled out of the ruling coalition and parliament speaker Oleksandr Turchynov said it was up to Udar and Svoboda to propose a candidate for temporary prime minister to lead the government until parliamentary elections can be held.

That introduced the possibility of an openly fascist prime minister heading a country closely affiliated to the European Union.

The parliament cemented its charge to the right after expelling the Communist Party on Wednesday, despite the fact that three million had voted for it.

The Communist Party took the parliament’s decision to the courts yesterday, warning that it would take it to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg if necessary.

Party leader Petro Symonenko said: “We will defend everything related to our rights in the Ukrainian courts, but if we fail here, we will go to the European Court of Human Rights itself.”

The Verkhovnaya Rada had paved the way for the party’s expulsion on Tuesday by amending its rules and billionaire President Petro Poroshenko signed it into law.

Turchynov’s announcement was made on Wednesday morning amid heavy infighting.

Mr Symonenko made a statement about the security services. Svoboda Party members then accused him of disseminating false information and tried to physically eject him.

An all-out brawl ensued and amid the chaos, Turchynov announced the party’s impending dissolution. The Communist Party members present walked out.