Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Volodymyr Lytvyn called on the government for a constructive cooperation with the parliament.
At the Conciliative Council on Monday, V. Lytvyn informed that seventy-nine issues on this week´s agenda include only two governmental bills adjusted for the second reading, while the rest is legislative initiatives. "We look forward to a normal dialogue with the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine on Friday," he stated.
Explaining his standpoint, V. Lytvyn claimed that the Cabinet of Ministers "no longer contends with the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine." He reminded that only three ministers had attended the government question hour on Friday before last despite the requirements of the laws on the Standing Orders of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and on the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. "Some of them even failed to delegate a deputy minister, having commissioned their representatives. That will not do, either we work or not," the Head of the Verkhovna Rada stressed.
He also stated that the government is underrepresented at the sittings of the parliamentary committees.
V. Lytvyn emphasized that the parliament is always trying to scrutinize the governmental bills first of all.
Thus, V. Lytvyn suggested organizing the work with the Cabinet of Ministers in the following way: "let us speak about scrutiny of the governmental bills in the first reading after the Government Question Hour on Friday. If there is a normal dialogue, we will scrutinize them. Otherwise, let us pass decisions. The Verkhovna Rada has never been stepped on." "The law shall be implemented," he stressed.
First Deputy Prime Minister Andrii Kliuev declared that "the government and all members of the Cabinet of Ministers treat all deputies and leaders of the Verkhovna Rada with deep respect." "Therefore, all members of the Cabinet of Ministers, except of those sent on a mission, will attend the Government Question Hour on Friday," he assured. He explained that on Friday before last many members of the government, including himself and Deputy Prime Minister Serhii Tihipko, were on a mission. "We believe that such situation will not happen again," he stated.