Volodymyr Lytvyn: Supervising Function of The Verkhovna Rada needs strengthening
Although the political reform was cancelled, the constitutional provision that the Parliament is the only representative of the public has not been abolished. Volodymyr Lytvyn, Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, made this statement in the interview to the Business periodical on Sunday, asked about the role of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine in the Ukrainian political system.
Restriction of the Parliament´s authorities concerns only the decrease of its influence on the appointments of personnel and formation of the Cabinet of Ministers. "The ministers used to understand that their destiny depends on the Parliament, while now they are looking up to two persons the President and the Prime Minister," he stated. "However, interdependence between the Government and the Parliament lowered the bar of exactingness, as no one wanted to criticize their ministers." Still, V.Lytvyn claimed that the Parliament would be able to set higher standards for the Government.
Supervising function of The Verkhovna Rada needs strengthening, the Head of the Parliament believes. He attaches importance to the feasible actions, not merely criticism of the authorities.
According to V.Lytvyn, voluntary voting of the People´s Deputies is
another factor of the efficient parliamentary work. "Partisan discipline in the
Parliament is reduced to absurd, as even the authors of the bill vote against
their own bills, because the faction follows another line," he stated.
"The ghost of imperative mandate seems to have taken root in the deputies´ unconscious." The Head of the Parliament admits that such a stance may be advantageous
for some parliament members it is easier to shield oneself behind the faction,
than to assume responsibility and advocate
one´s principles. "Uncertainty of the election system at the coming elections
may be the reason," he stated.
A full version of the interview is available at http://www.business.ua/articles/action_faces/11720/print/