Mykola Tomenko, Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, considers today´s voting in the Parliament for the resolution on the introduction of ‘a touch key´ for personal voting of the Deputies to be "a political test for each People´s Deputy."
M. Tomenko emphasized that today´s voting in the session hall is essential, "since it shall finally demonstrate which factions, groups, and deputies ate interested in the revival of parliamentarism." M. Tomenko stressed, "Ukrainian parliamentarism is possible only if there is Parliament, not only parties, factions or groups."
M. Tomenko stated that situation is critical, because there are some People´s Deputies who have not attended the Parliament for several years. "Some Deputies declare in public that they despise the Parliament, the session hall and all the parliamentary work", stressed the Deputy Chairman. Instead, they never forget to receive their salary in time and use their deputy status whenever possible.
Moreover, M. Tomenko emphasized that the Verkhovna Rada should have made the next movement to lift the immunity of the President, judges, and People´s Deputies, "since the deputy mandate shall not be an entrance ticket to lawlessness."
M. Tomenko admitted that if the Parliament fails to guarantee personal responsibility of every deputy, even the village mayors will refuse to go to work. "If we fail to do it, we will have numerous declarations like those of Kyiv city mayor Leonid Chernovetskyi that he may come to work whenever he wants, as he was not appointed but elected to his office," stated M. Tomenko.
On Thursday, the Verkhovna Rada recommitted the draft resolution on the introduction of People´s Deputies registration and record of results of personal voting with the help of touch keys. The decision was upheld by 234 Deputies. Previously, the Verkhovna Rada failed to pass the Resolution in its entirety (222 votes) and as a basis (221 votes).