On the Preparation Procedure for the First Session of The Verkhovna Rada of the New Convocation

(As laid down by the Rules of Procedure of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine)

With the aim of formulating proposals concerning the organisation and running of the Plenary sittings of the First Session, and the putting together of the appropriate Draft Acts, the Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the preceding convocation shall form a Preparatory Deputy Group from among the newly-elected Peoples´ Deputies.

The Political parties (electoral blocs of political parties) involved in the allocation of the Deputies´ mandates, resulting from the elections, shall delegate Peoples´ Deputies to the Preparatory Deputy Group, the quota being one Delegate per 15 Peoples´ Deputies elected according to the voting list of the political parties (electoral blocs of political parties). In the event that eight or more People's Deputies remain following the allocation of quotas, then one Delegate from this political party (electoral bloc of political parties) shall be also nominated. A motion in writing regarding the nominated People's Deputy Delegate from a political party (electoral bloc of political parties) signed by the leader of this political party (managing body of the electoral bloc of political parties) shall be submitted to the Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the preceding convocation or, in his absence, to the First Vice-Chairman or Vice-Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine within 10 days of the official declaration of the election results by the Central Election Committee.

The first meeting of the Preparatory Deputy Group shall be convened by the Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the preceding convocation or, in his absence, the First Vice-Chairman or Vice-Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, provided that at least two-thirds of the constitutional membership of the People´s Deputies have been elected. Where the Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the preceding convocation or, in his absence, the First Vice-Chairman or Vice-Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine for any reason fails to convene the first meeting of the Preparatory Deputy Group, the People's Deputies delegated to its membership shall, for the day following expiry of the ten-day term convene an independent meeting.

The Preparatory Deputy Group shall elect, from among its membership, a Chairman, Vice-Chairman, and Secretary of the Group and conduct its affairs based on the rules adopted for interim ad hoc commissions. Once the Committees have been formed, the Preparatory Deputy Group shall be dissolved.

The Preparatory Deputy Group shall report back on all matters discussed and acted on to the first session of the newly convoked Verkhovna Rada.

Prior to the opening of the first session of the newly-elected Verkhovna Rada, the newly-elected People's Deputies, at a ceremonial meeting, shall take the Oath before The Verkhovna Rada, whose text is defined in Article 79 of the Constitution of Ukraine.

The Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the preceding convocation shall invite the newly-elected People's Deputies to take the Oath, for which purpose give the floor to the most senior (in age) People's Deputy, so that he may read out the text. This Deputy shall then request the newly-elected Deputies to rise, after which the Oath shall be read out.

After the Oath has been read, the Chairman of the previous convocation of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine shall invite the newly-elected People's Deputies to countersign the Oath beneath the text.

The newly-convoked Verkhovna Rada shall hold its First Session in the Assembly Hall of The Verkhovna Rada no later than the thirtieth day following the official announcement of the election of at least two-thirds of the People's Deputies from the constitutional membership of The Verkhovna Rada.

The first sitting of the first session of the newly-elected Verkhovna Rada shall be opened by the most senior (in age) People's Deputy. Before the Temporary Presidium of the first session is elected, sittings of The Verkhovna Rada shall be presided over by the Chairman of the Preparatory Deputy Group.

Before the membership of the committees is defined at the first session plenary sittings of the newly-elected Verkhovna Rada, the agenda for consideration `shall be as follows:

1) Formation of the Temporary Presidium of the first session;

2) Declaration of the abdication of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine before the newly-elected Verkhovna Rada by the Prime Minister of Ukraine or the person acting as Prime Minister of Ukraine;

3) Election of the Returning Board;

4) Agreement on the media coverage of the first session proceedings;

5) Reading of the Extraordinary Home and International State of Ukraine Message by the President of Ukraine;

6) Report by the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the previous convocation on the progress of legislative matters;

7) Reading of the Report by the Preparatory Deputy Group, questions to the Chairman and replies from him;

8) Agreement on the List of Committees and their terms of reference;

9) Agreement on the formation and registration of Deputy factions;

10) Agreement on the Coalition of Deputy factions in The Verkhovna Rada;

11) Election of the Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine;

12) Election of the First Vice-Chairman and Vice-Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine;

13) Election of Chairmen of Committees and their First Deputies, Deputies, Secretaries and Memberships;

14) Agreement on the Conciliation Board of Deputy factions in the Verkhovna Rada (hereinafter referred to as the Conciliation Board).

 The list of matters as stated in the first part of this Article does not require discussion and approval by the Verkhovna Rada. Where necessary, The Verkhovna Rada may change the order of topics for consideration.

The Verkhovna Rada shall make no resolutions on the Message of the President of Ukraine, Report from the Preparatory deputy Group and Report by the Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the previous convocation.

The Temporary Presidium shall consist of  five People's Deputies It shall comprise the Chairman of the Preparatory Deputy Group and four Deputies representing the four political parties (electoral blocs of political parties) gaining the largest number of Deputy's mandates following the election.

Before the Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine is elected, the Members of the Temporary Presidium of the Verkhovna Rada First Session shall each take his turn at presiding over the plenary sitting. Any decisions taken by the Verkhovna Rada during this period shall be signed by all members of the Temporary Presidium of the Verkhovna Rada first session.

Following the election of the Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, he shall preside over the plenary sitting of The Verkhovna Rada, and the Temporary Presidium of the Verkhovna Rada first session shall be dissolved.