PLENARY MEETINGS OF THE SECOND SESSION OF THE VERKHOVNA RADA OF UKRAINE OF THE SEVENTH CONVOCATION WERE HELD ON TUESDAY, APRIL 16
At the beginning of the morning session, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Volodymyr Rybak informed about succession of people’s deputy Pavlo Baloha from the Party of Regions.
The Chairman informed about creation of the inter-factional deputies’ union the “European Choice” in the Verkhovna Rada. Anatoliy Kinakh and Valentyn Nalyvaichenko were chosen the co-chairmen of the union.
Members of Parliament observed a moment of silence in memory of people’s deputy of the I, III-IV convocations Stanislav Hurenko who passed away on April 14, at the age of 77.
Volodymyr Rybak informed about his participation in work of the Council of the Inter-parliamentary Assembly of Member States of the Commonwealth of Independent States in Saint Petersburg, on April 11-12, where he had meetings with the chairmen of parliament of the other states. According to him, “among other things, they expressed their surprise with the situation in the Verkhovna Rada, in particular, with behavior of people’s deputies of Ukraine.” “It was very hard for me to explain what governs members of parliament during the plenary meetings,” he noted.
Volodymyr Rybak stressed that the current Rules of Procedure of the Verkhovna Rada has the status of law. That is why everybody should follow it. “However, we constantly hear shouting, whistling, chanting slogans in the session hall like during football matches. Mutual insults from colleagues. Can we continue to work that way?! Does it correspond to the norms the Rules of Procedure?!,” he asked.
Volodymyr Rybak stressed: “henceforth, in such cases, the Chairman will consequently follow the Rules of Procedure during the plenary session.”
The Chairman drew attention also to the fact that in the hall of plenary meeting those issues must be discussed that are prepared for consideration and are stipulated by the agenda according to the Rules of Procedure. “The speaker should speak only on one issue and follow time requirements. The Chairman will be obliged to switch off the microphone, if the speech touches different topic,” he added.
Volodymyr Rybak informed that yesterday during the heated discussion of the Conciliatory Council of deputies’ factions the compromise was found for further work in the session hall and in the Committees. The effectiveness of the Parliament of Ukraine depends on maintaining the atmosphere of trust, which in the end we managed to achieve. Each of the political forces represented in this hall has a reciprocal claims and hidden fears that the other side will try to emerge victorious in the political opposition. The only guarantee of compliance with the agreements can be strict adherence to the Constitution of Ukraine and laws of Ukraine by each people’s deputies,” he stressed.
"Denial from provocative statements and non-parliamentary behavior in the plenary sessions hall should be a major factor in our coordinated activities of decision-making" Volodymyr Rybak said and added "as the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, I will try to make every effort to bring our work to the clear framework of rules of procedures. And I hope to get the support of the entire hall." He invited people’s deputies "to the scrupulous performance of their duties for the benefit of the Ukrainian people."
The authorized representatives of deputy factions made their suggestions, claims and statements.
People’s deputies started considering issues on the agenda.
The Advisor of the President of Ukraine - Chairperson of the Main Office for Constitutional and Legal Modernization Affairs Maryna Stavniychuk reported on the draft law on amendments to article 98 of the Constitution of Ukraine (re the authorities of the Counting Chamber) proposed to the agenda. She noted that the bill aims at broadening competence of the Counting Chamber by giving it the authority to monitor the State Budget revenues that will provide full control over its implementation.
The Chairman of the Committee of Judicial Policy Valeriy Pysarenko reported on the decision of the Committee to recommend the Verkhovna Rada to include the bill to the agenda of the second session and refer it to the Constitutional Court for receiving the conclusion.
During the discussion, majority of speakers supported the inclusion of the bill to the agenda.
Representative of the UDAR faction N.Ahafonova did not uphold the bill. She noted that the bill will disbalance independency in legislative and executive power.
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted the resolution “On inclusion to the agenda of the second session of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the seventh convocation the bill on amendments to article 98 of the Constitution of Ukraine and its refer to the Constitutional Court of Ukraine” with 351 positive votes.
People’s deputies considered a range of bill proposed for the inclusion to the agenda of the session. By result of voting most of them did not receive required number of votes for inclusion.
People’s deputies postponed consideration of the bills on amendments to the Criminal and Criminal Procedure Codes of Ukraine regarding refinement of the confiscation procedure (Reg. No. 1103) and on amendments to several legislative acts of Ukraine regarding imposing criminal and judicial measures on legal entities (Reg. No. 2032). Parliament members drew attention to two more bills registered under No No 2802 and 2803. They noted that the bills registered under No No 1103 and 2032 shall be considered simultaneously with the bills No No 2802 and 2803. However, the latter two have not been considered by the specialized committee. Thus, they suggested consider all four bills after consideration by the specialized committee.