PLENARY MEETINGS OF THE VERKHOVNA RADA OF UKRAINE OF THE SEVENTH CONVOCATION WERE HELD ON THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2014.

Having opened morning plenary session, Chair of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov reminded that faction of the Communist party of Ukraine, composing of 33 people’s deputies, was established following the results of elections to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the seventh convocation and on the basis of the Rules of Procedure. As of July 1, 2014 the faction has reduced to 23 people’s deputies, which is much less than the minimum number of a faction allowed.

On the basis of part 4 of article 60 of the Rules of Procedure of Ukraine, Oleksandr Turchynov announced dissolution of the deputy faction of the Communist party of Ukraine in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the seventh convocation,” claimed Oleksandr Turchynov, naming this event to be a historical one.  

The Presiding drew attention to the tense agenda of plenary meetings. In particularly, to the necessity to discus and decide on the laws that will determine socio-economic situation for the nearest future. These are anti-crisis laws, referred by the Cabinet of Ministers and lots of other important issues that determine development of our country in the nearest time, including the issues on strengthening defense capacity of our country.

In view of the fact that the majority of discussions at present pertain to the laws on amendments to the State Budget and the tax system, Oleksandr Turchynov noted that it is necessary to hold consultations with leaders of deputy factions and groups that are part of a coalition and the parliamentary majority. The Presiding announced a break.

After the break, Oleksandr Turchynov informed that there was held a professional discussion with the Cabinet of Ministers, and deputy factions have elaborated extremely important supplementations and amendments to the Law “On the State Budget of Ukraine for 2014” and to the Tax Code.

He informed also about the agreements reached with the Government. The latter shall submit all the amendments discussed during the meeting of coalition deputy factions prior to 4 p.m.

Oleksandr Turchynov suggested postpone consideration of the bills on amendments to the Law “On the State Budget of Ukraine for 2014” and on amendments to the Tax Code until 4 p.m.

The people’s deputies considered the issue of including the bills into the agenda.

The the draft law on amendments to several legislative acts re renewing institutional power and simplifying provision of administrative services (Reg. No. 4322a) was presented by the Minister of Justice Pavlo Petrenko.

The people’s deputies placed the bill on the session’s agenda by 235 votes.

Chair of the Committee on Judicial Policy Valerii Pysarenko informed that the Committee received this bill only yesterday. Since no decision on this bill was taken, it cannot be scrutinized during this plenary meeting. Under the Rules of Procedure, if a bill has just been included into the agenda, it can be considered only in the course of the evening session.

Parliamentarians discussed the bill.

Following the results of voting, the bill was not adopted (215 votes in favor).

The Presiding addressed the people’s deputies asking them to uphold this bill. “We cannot stop reforming the system of government. We promised this to our voters. These are real reforms of the local self-government,” he stressed.

Following the results of repeated voting, the bill was adopted as a basis (241 votes in favor).

Pavlo Petrenko, Minister of Justice, reported on another bill – on amendments to the Budget Cod of Ukraine regarding simplifying administrative services provision (Reg. No. 4323a).

The people’s deputies included the bill into the agenda, discussed it and adopted it as a basis by 230 votes.

The bill on amendments to the laws “On Military Duty and Military Service” and “On Fundamentals of Prevention and Counteraction to Corruption” (re conscription of citizens for military service), registered under No. 4325a were included into the agenda. 

In the course of the meeting, leaders of deputy factions took the floor with important statements.

Chair of “UDAR of Vitalii Klychko” faction Vitalii Kovalchuk noted that “proceeding form the fact that the Verkhovna Rada is not intended to work fruitfully, as can be observed, “UDAR of Vitalii Klychko” faction announces that it leaves the composition of the “European Choice” coalition in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the seventh convocation. “Today, we launch a constitutional mechanism that will allow the President of Ukraine to dissolve the Verkhovna Rada and set early parliamentary elections.”

Oleksandr Turchynov said that he cannot grasp the faction’s standing, for the Verkhovna Rada was voting positively. He noted that “today, in such a manner, an attempt is made to disrupt governmental laws that shall secure funding of the Armed Forces,” he stressed.

Chair of the All-Ukrainian Union “Svoboda” Oleh Tiahnybok announced that the faction leaves the composition of the coalition of majority.

S.Soboliev informed that “Batkivshchyna” faction shall run in the early elections.

On behalf of 15 non-affiliated deputies, the people’s deputy S.Mishchenko claimed that they leave the parliamentary coalition.

Chair of the deputies' group "Economic Development" Anatolii Kinakh upheld holding early elections in the Verkhovna Rada "as a chance for Ukrainians to form modern, patriotic and effective authorities as a basis for our development".

After the speeches, the Chair suggested including separate bills into the agenda.

People's deputies did not uphold including several bills into the agenda.

The Chair adjourned the morning meeting.

At the beginning of the evening plenary meeting, Oleksandr Turchynov reminded that on February 27, 2014, at the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine plenary meeting, it was announced about forming the parliamentary coalition "European Choice" consisting of 262 people's deputies. Today, on July 24, leaders of deputies' factions "UDAR" and All-Ukrainian Union "Svoboda" informed about their factions withdrawal from the coalition. 71 people's deputy submitted respective documents with personal signatures confirming the MPs decisions. Moreover, 19 people's deputies claimed about their withdrawal from the coalition and submitted respective applications.

Oleksandr Turchynov announced about terminating activity of the coalition "European Choice" in the Parliament

Minister of Finance Oleksandr Shlapak reported on the draft law on amendments to the Tax Code and several other legislative acts of Ukraine (re improving separate provisions) under Reg. No. 4309a.

According to the speaker, implementation of measures stipulated by the bill will promote liquidation of tax avoidance schemes, improving tax administration, and intensifying state control over sale of alcohol products.

People's deputies did not uphold bill's including into the agenda (206 in favour).

On the governmental demand, the MPs considered in the second reading the draft law on amendments to several laws of Ukraine re reforming the system of managing the Single Gas Transportation System of Ukraine (Reg. No. 4116a).

Chair of the Committee on Fuel and Energy Complex, Nuclear Policy and Nuclear Safety Mykola Martynenko reported on changes introduced to the bill during its elaboration for the second reading.

"UDAR" faction representative O.Prodan suggested taking into account the faction's amendments and only then they will uphold the bill. 

Following the results of the voting, the bill was not adopted in the second reading (94 in favour).

Oleksandr Turchynov claimed the government asked to hold additional consultations, and announced a break.

After the break, the Chair gave the floor to Prime-Minister Arsenii Yatseniuk.

A.Yatseniuk claimed this government is not the best in the history of Ukraine. However, at least it did what it could. 

"What happened in the parliament's hall will have very complicated but not dramatic consequences for our country", said A.Yatseniuk. In his words, majority of people want early parliamentary elections, and the government wants that too. However, there is a great difference between a politician and a politico – a national leader assumes the responsibility even if they do not like it", claimed the Prime-Minister.  

A.Yatseniuk said the history would not forgive us. He hopes the country will go though the hardships.

The Prime-Minister stressed that any changes in the country and reforms as well can be possible when people have faith, but now, after everything that is going on, it is hard to say how it is possible to give people this faith and confidence in the fact that "we are doing everything right". "Therefore, the fact that the coalition has disintegrated today, that today the laws have not been voted for, and we have no money to pay a soldier, a teacher, a doctor, we do not have money to buy a gun or fill the armour vehicle with fuel. The fact that today we have not adopted a decision on filling in Ukrainian gas storages to finally be free from Russian gas dependence, this all is unacceptable", he stressed.    

A.Yatseniuk claimed that in this situation, the government has two options. The first one – the Prime-Minister initiates a procedure of forming a new coalition. In his words, that means the Prime-Minister shall include communists and representatives of the Party of Regions in the coalition. He stressed that he would do it under any circumstances.  

The second option – the government and the Prime-Minister shall resign if a new coalition is not formed and the current one has disintegrated.  

A.Yatseniuk resigned in connection with disintegration of the coalition and blocking of the governmental initiatives.

Oleksandr Turchynov officially addressed deputies' factions "UDAR" and "Svoboda" with a proposal to immediately start consultations on appointing a technical Prime-Minister. 

He informed he would convene an extraordinary session any time in order to consider and uphold the suggested candidate.

The Chair adjourned the evening meeting.