PLENARY MEETINGS OF THE THIRD SESSION OF THE VERKHOVNA RADA OF UKRAINE OF THE SEVENTH CONVOCATION WERE HELD ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22
On opening the morning session, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Volodymyr Rybak announced of exclusion of the people’s deputies of Ukraine Andrii Pavelko and Leonid Serhiyenko form the “Batkivshchyna” deputy faction, according to the faction minutes of meeting.
Authorized representatives of deputy factions took the floor with statements, announcement and proposals.
Volodymyr Rybak put forward for consideration the bill on approval of the schedule of meetings of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine for October 22-25, 2013.
The Chairman informed that deputy faction leaders took the decision to propose the Verkhovna Rada approve the schedule of meetings of the Verkhovna Rada for October 22-25, 2013 during the consultation, held after the meeting of the Conciliatory Council.
The Chairman put the proposal to vote.
The people’s deputies did not uphold it (202 votes “for”).
After the speeches of representatives of deputy factions, the Chairman announced break and invited deputy faction leaders to the meeting.
After the break, Volodymyr Rybak informed that faction leaders took the decision to approve the agenda of the third session of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the seventh convocation during the next plenary week, and to approve the schedule of plenary meetings for October 22-25 now.
The proposal was not upheld (201 votes “for”).
The Chairman addressed factions that did not participate in voting (UDAR and Svoboda) asking for explanations why they do not vote for the approval of weekly agenda.
Representative of Svoboda faction explained that only the bills that were approved by the committees should be included into the agenda and not “the bill on game husbandry”.
Representative of UDAR faction insisted on consideration of issues connected with nonpayment of social allowances and on granting a hearing to the Minister of Social Policy.
The Chairman once again put to vote the bill on approval of the schedule of meetings for October 22-25, 2013.
The parliament members did not support it (214 votes “for”).
The Chairman gave the floor to the representatives of factions.
Chairman of the Batkivshchyna faction A.Yatsenyuk noted that the faction has been demanding for a month already to bring forward the bill on the State Budget of Ukraine for 2014 and consider the bill on the prosecutor’s office, which is one of the key requirements for the European integration.
“These three bills, particularly, the bill on budget, the law on the prosecutor’s office and on the Special commission on reforming electoral legislation should be in the agenda of the current plenary week,” stressed A.Yatsenyuk.
At the demand of the Party of Regions and the Communist Party, a break was announced.
After the break, the people’s deputies considered a number of draft resolutions on election and dismissal of judges and took the respective decisions.
The Chairman noted that it is necessary to consider several resolutions on calling several early elections of village and township heads. According to him, “it is extremely important to consider these bills and fulfill our commitment to the local councils”.
The Chairman of the Committee on State Building and Local Self-Government Davyd Zhvaniia informed that on September 18, 2013 the Committee has scrutinized 78 appeals form separate local councils on calling early election of 69 village and 9 township heads, in connection with early termination of their powers.
D.Zhvaniia noted that when taking the decision on the date of holding early local elections, the Committee decided to recommend the Verkhovna Rada settle early local elections of village and township heads and deputies of several village councils on December 15, 2013.
The Chairman of the Committee attached attention to the fact that as of today, the date of December 15 is no longer topical, since, according to the Law “On Local Elections”, early local elections are called no sooner than 60 days before the election day, and the electoral process starts 50 days before early local elections. Thus, it is necessary to change the date of these elections to December 22.
The people’s deputies did not uphold the suggestion (219 votes “for”).
The Chairman adjourned the morning session.
At the beginning of the evening session, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Volodymyr Rybak informed about the meeting of deputy faction leaders that was held during the break. Following its results, the decision was taken to approve weekly agenda for October 22-25; grant a hearing to the Report of the Cabinet of Ministers on Ukraine's participation in the activities aimed at maintenaning international peace and security in 2012; consider the draft resolution on calling early elections of separate village and township heads; and consider the issue of ratification.
The Report of the Cabinet of Ministers on Ukraine's participation in the activities aimed at maintenaning international peace and security in 2012 was presented by the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ruslan Demchenko. It was mentioned that Ukraine should use all the possible tools on its part to secure peace in hotspots of the world.
“It highly important to turn back to the previous practice when the decision of the President of Ukraine to send the UN Peacekeeping Forces to support peace was approved by the Verkhovna Rada without determining the deadline of troops stay,” noted the First Deputy Minister.
The Chairman of the Committee on National Security and Defence Volodymyr Lytvyn informed that the UN annually allocates USD 7,1 bln to maintain peace, however, Ukraine has received only USD 350 mln for the past 10 years. He also outlined several problems that arise and require legislative settlement.
The Chairman at the meeting noted that the Report was taken into account and the Committee on National Security and Defence will prepare the respective draft resolution on this isue, and the Verkhovna Rada will scrutinize it.
The issue on approval of the Verkhovna Rada agenda for October 22-25, including several additional bills, was put to vote.
The people’s deputies did not support it (223 votes “for”).
Representatives of factions made their proposals to include into the agenda the bills, consideration of which they deem necessary.
The Chairman put to vote the proposals on approval of the agenda including the bills of UDAR, Svoboda and the Communist Party.
None of the voting was resultative.
At the demand of Batkivshchyna and UDAR factions, a break was announced.
The Chairman adjourned the evening session.
Next plenary meeting of the third session will be held on Wednesday, October 23.