PLENARY MEETINGS OF THE ELEVENTH SESSION OF THE VERKHOVNA RADA OF THE SIXTH CONVOCATION WERE HELD ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6.
At the beginning of the morning meeting, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada V. Lytvyn informed about the results of work of the Verkhovna Rada at plenary meetings on October 16.
V.Lytvyn informed about the withdrawal of the people’s deputy of Ukraine Yu.Serbin from “BYuT- Batkivshchyna” faction according to his personal claim.
Authorized representatives of deputy factions took the floor with announcements, statements, information, and proposals. People’s deputies assessed elections to the Verkhovna Rada of October 2, and suggested create Interim Inquiry Commission to investigate violations of the election law during elections and vote counting.
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, summing up the suggestions regarding creation of the Interim Inquiry Commission, suggested adopting the draft resolution to determine the state of adherence to election legislation in separate single-mandate constituencies during elections to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
V.Lytyn read out the text of the draft resolution: “Due to the ambiguous social and political assessment of tabulation in separate single-mandate constituencies, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine resolves:
First. To create the Interim Inquiry Commission of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to investigate the circumstances of election results determination in certain single-mandate election constituencies. In connection with this, the Verkhovna Rada suggests heads of deputy factions and deputy group submit proposals regarding quantitative and personal composition of the interim commission up to November 7, 2012.
Second. Recommend the Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine examine the legitimacy of involvement of law enforcement bodies to maintain law and order on separate precinct and district election commissions on the day of voting and during vote counting and tabulation in separate single-mandate constituencies; and to examine weather actions of law enforcement officials comply with the law. The High Council of Justice and the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine should examine adherence of judges to their oath while adopting decisions during the election campaign.
The Central Election Commission should repeatedly and according to its authority and the Law “On Election of People’s Deputies of Ukraine” study materials pertaining to determination of election results in the so called problematic single-mandate constituencies.
Third. The Prosecutor General’s Office, the High Council of Justice and the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine as well as the Central Election Commission should be provided with the preliminary information on the abovementioned issues before November 9, 2012.
The Verkhovna Rada adopted the resolution by 232 votes.
People’s deputies considered the draft resolution to revoke the decision of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to adopt in entirety the draft Resolution “To appoint members of the Supervisory Board of Public Joint Stock Company "State Land Bank of Ukraine”.
The draft resolution did not receive enough votes to be adopted (73 votes “for”).
People’s deputies considered four draft resolutions of the people’s deputy Yu.Karmazin on revoking of the decisions of the Verkhovna Rada of 16.10.12 to adopt the draft laws: “To amend several legislative acts of Ukraine (re activity of the Ministry of Education and Science, Youth and Sports of Ukraine, Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of Energy and Coal Industry and other bodies of executive power, activity of which is directed and coordinated by the respective ministers, as well as by the State Committee for TV and Radio Broadcasting)”; “To amend several legislative acts of Ukraine (re the activity of Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Culture and other bodies of central executive power, activity of which is directed and coordinated by the respective ministers, as well as by the State Space Agency)”; “To amend several legislative acts of Ukraine (re activity of the Ministry of Agricultural Policy and Food, Ministry of Social Policy and other bodies of central executive power, activity of which is directed and coordinated by the respective ministers)”; “To amend several legislative acts of Ukraine (re activity of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade and other bodies of central executive power, activity of which is directed and coordinated by the respective ministers)” in entirety as laws.
Volodymyr Makeyenko, Head of the Committee on Rules of Parliamentary Procedure, Ethics and Support to Work of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, reported the decision of the Committee in regard to all four draft resolutions: to reckon consideration of the abovementioned draft resolutions during the plenary meeting of the Verkhovna Rada as inappropriate.
By results of voting, all draft resolutions were rejected.
A number of bills were included into the agenda.
Volodymyr Makeyenko, head of the Committee on Rules of Parliamentary Procedure, Ethics and Support to Work of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, informed on the draft law to amend Rules of Procedure of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, prepared for the second reading.
He reminded that the Verkhovna Rada adopted the abovementioned bill as basis on October 16 and mandated the Committee to scrutinize the bill with consideration of remarks and proposals from the subjects of legislative initiative. The Committee was to submit the bill to the Verkhovna Rada for consideration in the second reading.
According to V.Makeyenko, 48 suggestions were received, 18 of which were included and 30 – rejected. The majority of rejected proposals were included in the new version.
People’s deputies considered the amendments to the bill.
By results of voting, the bill did not receive enough votes (217 votes “for”).
In connection with this, the Chairman noted that the decision needs to be adopted and suggested conduct consultations and return to the adoption of the final decision or pass the bill for the repeated second reading.
After the break, the First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Adam Martyniuk informed on the proposals pertaining to the order of considering issues during plenary meetings of the first session of the newly elected Verkhovna Rada, conditions of forming deputy factions and groups, and dismissing from office the Human Rights Commissioner of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
The bill was adopted in entirety with consideration of the abovementioned proposals by 247 votes.
The Verkhovna Rada adopted in entirety the draft law on all-Ukrainian referendum in the version of the first reading.
People’s deputies included into the agenda the draft resolution on the address of the Central Election Commission in regard to elections of the people’s deputies of Ukraine in the single mandate election constituencies No.No. 94, 132, 194, 197 and 223.
Parliamentarians continued consideration of the bills in the second reading.
The Verkhovna Rada adopted the following draft laws in entirety: To amend the Law of Ukraine “On Customs Tariff of Ukraine” (re bringing the import fees into conformance with WTO criteria); to amend several legislative acts of Ukraine in connection with adoption of the Law “On Free Legal Assistance”; to amend the Law of Ukraine "On Promoting Development of Domestic Agricultural Machine Building" (re Favorable Treatment of Domestic Machine Building Enterprises); and on agricultural receipts.
The Chairman adjourned the morning session.
At the beginning of the evening session, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine informed that “BYuT-Homeland” and “Our Ukraine Self-Defence” factions demand either a brake to be taken or provide them with a possibility to make an announcement.
Faction’s statement was read out by the people’s deputy M.Tomenko. The statement referred to “unnoticeable adoption of the Law “On All-Ukrainian Referendum”.
M.Tomenko reminded that this law provides the possibility to submit and adopt a new version of the Constitution of Ukraine on the all-Ukrainian referendum.
M.Tomenko informed that factions will dispute the decision of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine regarding adoption of the Law “On All-Ukrainian Referendum” and register the respective resolution.
The draft resolution on the address of the Central Election Commission in regard to elections of the people’s deputies of Ukraine in the single mandate election constituencies No.No. 94, 132, 194, 197 and 223 and registered under No. 11398, was reported by the people’s deputy O.Kozub. He noted that according to part two of article 104 of the Law of Ukraine “On the Election of People’s Deputies of Ukraine”, the Centarl Election Commission should set repeat elections in the single mandate constituencies No.No. 94, 132, 194, 197 and 223 and ensure their conduct according to the abovementioned law; and also determine, in the established order, the amount of budgetary expenditures required to hold repeat election of the people’s deputies of Ukraine in the single mandate constituencies No.No. 94, 132, 194, 197 and 223.
The resolution was adopted by 268 votes.
People’s deputies considered a number of bills, included into the agenda of the morning session.
The draft law to amend the Tax Code of Ukraine” (re excise duty on substances used as components of motor fuels) was reported by the Volodymyr Makukha, the Deputy Head of the Minister of Energy and Coal Industry. He noted that the law aims at excluding the possibility of counterfeit production of motor fuels and increasing revenues of the state budget.
By results of voting, the bill was adopted in entirety as a law by 252 votes.
People’s deputies considered several more bills.
The Verkhovna Rada adopted in entirety the bills: to amend the Law “On State Budget of Ukraine for 2012” (re repayment of the difference in heat tariffs for population); on amendments to certain legislative acts of Ukraine re expanding tools to influence monetary market; to amend article 8 of the Law “On Advertising” regarding prohibition to indicate the price of goods, works and services in other currencies than the Ukrainian one; on amendments to the Final Provisions of the Law of Ukraine “On State Budget of Ukraine for 2012” (re financing housing and utilities sector reform program); and on amendments to appendix No. 3 to the Law of Ukraine “On State Budget of Ukraine for 2012” (re redistribution between budgetary programs of Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine).
The bill “To amend article 2 of the Law of Ukraine “On State Procurement” (re procurement of works connected with operation of the National Bank of Ukraine) was adopted as a basis.
The bill to amend the Law “On State Budget of Ukraine for 2012” (re realization of investment projects) was recommitted.
The Chairman read out deputies’ inquiries.
People’s deputies amended the Planning calendar of holding the eleventh session of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the sixth convocation. According to the amendments, plenary meetings on November 7, 8 and 9 will not be held. People’s deputies will work in the committees and factions.
The Chairman adjourned the evening meeting.
Next plenary meeting of the eleventh session will be held on Tuesday, November 20, 2012.