Mykola Tomenko: Ten Constitutional Initiatives of Yushchenko to the "Presidential-Oligarchic" Ukraine
Mykola Tomenko, Vice-Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, made the above-mentioned statement to characterize the Bill "On Amendments to the Constitution of Ukraine" brought forward by the President of Ukraine on 31 March.
M.Tomenko stated that all initiatives of the document led to the establishment of the power of the President and oligarchs with fantastic authorities as future senators of the Ukrainian State in case the Bill was adopted as the Fundamental Law.
According to M.Tomenko, ten initiatives form the foundation of such special Ukrainian political order.
Thus, the first initiative is concerned with the administrative-territorial reform: according to Article 76 and Paragraph 10 of the Bill, territorial order of Ukraine will be altered, i.e. the number of village, settlement, district councils will be reduced, and the division into regions will be eliminated in five years, i.e. in 2014.
Article 77 restricts the right of military servicemen, judges and other categories of governmental officials to be put to the vote.
Article 78 transfers the authorities to amend the Constitution of Ukraine exclusively by means of the national referendum appointed by the President of Ukraine.
Article 86 envisages setting up a bicameral National Assembly consisting of the Deputies´ Chamber 300 People´s Deputies elected for four years, and the Senate three senators from each region, the Crimean Autonomous Republic and Kyiv elected for six years. Moreover, all the Presidents of Ukraine become life senators.
Article 91 preserves the high level of deputies´ immunity. Thus, a People´s Deputy or a senator shall not be detained or imprisoned without the consent of the Deputies´ Chamber or the Senate.
Pursuant to Articles 118, 119, 120, 142, 166, the President acts as an actual head of the government, as he is authorized to terminate resolutions of the Cabinet of Ministers, becomes the leader of the judicial system of Ukraine, sets up courts and determines court districts.
According to M.Tomenko, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine (Articles 126, 131) becomes "a supreme body in the system of executive bodies with the Prime-Minister and one Vice-Prime-Minister; its resolutions can be terminated by the President and not a single executive body is subordinate to it".