Mykola Tomenko: It is inadmissible to amend the Constitution for the benefit of Newly-Elected Authorities under the Cover of a Referendum
"The opposition will insist that the bill "On the All-Ukrainian Referendum" adopted in the first reading be harmonized with the Constitution", Mykola Tomenko, Deputy Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, stated. He declared that "it is symbolic that the Party of Regions decided to eliminate the Constitutional procedure of amending the Constitution on the eve of the national holiday of the Constitution Day."
M.Tomenko stated that he had submitted several amendments to the bill "On the All-Ukrainian Referendum" (Reg. No. 6278) harmonizing the bill with the Constitution.
Mykola Tomenko reminded that while being in opposition, members of the Party of Regions objected to the attempts of Viktor Yushchenko´s team members to amend the Constitution bypassing the Parliament.
"It is impossible to amend the Constitution bypassing the Parliament, while the Parliament can not amend such a fundamental chapter as "general provisions" without a public consent given at the all-Ukrainian referendum", the Deputy Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine stated. "It is the balance between the authorities and the society that guarantees non-restoration of the authoritarian or totalitarian regime. It is inadmissible to amend the Constitution for the benefit of newly-elected authorities under the cover of a referendum", he stated.