Mykola Tomenko: Anti-Popular Pension Reform is illegitimate in terms of Social Support and Adoption by less than the Third Part of the People's Deputies
Mykola Tomenko, Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, is convinced that the anti-popular pension reform adopted at night in the Parliament is illegitimate in terms of social support and the fact that it was adopted by less than the third part of the People's Deputies. M. Tomenko, Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, made the foregoing statement at the assembly hall of the Parliament.
He reminded that the all-Ukrainian discussion of the pension reforms was held several months ago. However, none of the amendments suggested by the veterans, Chornobyl liquidators, trade unions, educators and other citizens has been upheld by the Parliament. Mykola Tomenko considers it an absurdity that most essential amendments adopted by the Specialized Committee have not been ratified at the session hall.
The Deputy Chairman explained that according to the official registration, only 143 People's Deputies out of 248 who voted for the reforms (Party of Regions 188, People's Party 20, Reforms for the Future 18, non-affiliated deputies 11; Our Ukraine People's Self-Defense 11) were registered and actually present at the session hall. "Thus, the pension reform was supported by less than the third part of the People's Deputies", the Deputy Chairman stressed. Thus, M. Tomenko stressed that the whole presidium of the Verkhovna Rada did not vote for the pension reform: Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine V.M. Lytvyn did not vote and First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine A.I. Martyniuk and Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada M.V. Tomenko voted against it.
"I believe that we have sufficient reasons to recognize this shameful decision illegitimate and unlawful", M. Tomenko stated. "We will exert every effort to prevent signing and enactment of this reform."