Parliament still able to meet in emergency
Andriy Parubiy promises that he will surely manage to convoke an extraordinary session of parliment if there emerge threats to be answered by the lawgiver.
At his after-board briefing on Monday, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Andriy Parubiy reminded that before the oath of office is sworn by newly elected members of parliament, the Verkhovna Rada of the eighth convocation remains valid, and he then assured that in case of threats to be immediately addressed by the Verkhovna Rada an extraordinary meeting of the parliament would be certainly convened.
Ukraine-Russia “Un-bridgeable”
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine anticipates having a bill that will shut the door upon holding television bridges between Ukraine and Russia.
Chairman Parubiy confirmed that there is understanding with the Committee on Freedom of Speech and Information Policy about making "a bill that renders it impossible to hold space bridges between Ukraine and the aggressive Russian Federation".
A.Parubiy is in hopes that the committee makes this decision soon, and the parliament will proceed this week to considering the said draft bill. The bill should be defined as of utter urgency and is seen very important for "repulsing information attacks of the Russian Federation and the fifth column".
According to the Chairman, the bill "is set on pursuing the legislative logic, so that all those who deny the Russian aggression, who deny the occupation of Ukrainian territories in public should be held criminally liable".
"Actually, they are information agents of the Russian aggressive state. There should not only be a public condemnation, there should be criminal responsibility, so that no such precedents may take place in Ukraine from now on," A.Parubiy stated.
New electoral code
The new Electoral Code will let citizens manage rosters of candidates in party lists during the hustings.
On July 8, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Andriy Parubiy presented the draft Election Code. At the very off of his presentation speech, the head of parliament stated that the electoral system in force is seen to be rather poor and then described in detail the risks associated with it.
According to the Chairman, the new electoral code offers a modern philosophy approach and cutting-edge attainments borrowed from European colleagues regarding the open lists. As per him, voters will be entitled to independently bear influence over those who have the right to represent one or another political force at the parliament.
A.Parubiy urged all deputies to come and vote for the electoral code in the run-up to the elections. "I am convinced that public pressure, a big push by the mass media will be heavy enough for everyone to vote. This is our strategic expectation," emphasized the politician and then asserted that once the code is adopted each subsequent regular elections are to be held in accordance with the new code.
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The draft Electoral Code, which provides for the introduction of a proportional electoral system with open party lists as well as a change in the electoral system for local elections (bill No.3112-1) was approved on November 7, 2017 on the first reading. On May 29, 2019, the code was recommended to be considered on the second reading. On June 6, the parliament started consideration of the second reading of the code. As of July 4, MPs have already mastered 80% of the code amendments.