The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Volodymyr Rybak hopes faction leaders will find a compromise on how to normalize parliament’s work in the nearest future.
In his interview to Rada TV Channel on Wednesday, Volodymyr Rybak reminded that opposition blocked the work of the Parliament on Tuesday without providing any reasons. Thereat, Volodymyr Rybak noted that according to the amendments to the Rules of Procedure, apart from the fact that deputies are to vote personally, they are prohibited to prevent consideration of agenda items, including by blocking the parliamentary podium.
Volodymyr Rybak informed that the agreement to continue consultations on Wednesday was reached on Tuesday. According to the Chairman of the Parliament, the text of Memorandum on the basis of interaction between deputy factions in organizing the work of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the seventh convocation in the course of plenary meetings was prepared at his suggestion. All deputy faction leaders were provided with the Memorandum that included also suggestions on how to normalize the situation.
Deputy faction leaders will again meet in the session hall on Thursday morning, said the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada.
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada emphasized that he is totally against heavy-handed unblocking of work of the Parliament. “I wish there were no provocations in the Verkhovna Rada,” he said. “We need to listen to each other, narrow the gap between our stands through a compromise, work and fulfill pre-election promises,” added Volodymyr Rybak.
He expressed an opinion that blocking can maximally last for two more days, then people’s deputies will work in the committees, as provided by the plan calendar, and the parliament will get back to normal work on February 19.
Volodymyr Rybak noted also that the majority of people’s deputies is against the possibility of dissolution of Parliament and re-election.
The Chairman of the Parliament also gave an interview to the Holos Rossii (Voice of Russia) radio, answering questions regarding current situation in the Parliament.