Plenary meeting on January 16, 2015

PLENARY MEETING OF THE VERKHOVNA RADA OF UKRAINE OF THE EIGHTH CONVOCATION WAS HELD ON FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015.

Having opened the morning meeting, Volodymyr Groysman claimed that January 16 "is a black day of parliamentarism and the state of Ukraine".

Volodymyr Groysman reminded that "last year in this session hall, MPs adopted the laws that ruined the statehood, democracy, and freedom, and led to deaths of civilians who were fighting for their freedom".

Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada stressed that "we all need to realize that the Parliament of current convocation bears great responsibility for implementing reforms, strengthening democracy, and making Ukraine a successful country. It will be successful when every citizen will feel free and protected, and Ukraine will be a truly democratic state". 

Volodymyr Groysman claimed "in the name of the deceased, in the name of our heroes who are now protecting our independence, we need to make everything possible for Ukraine to be successful". He believes that with joint efforts of the President, Parliament, and Government, 2015 will be a year of restoring parliamentarism and implementing successful and quality reforms.

The Chairperson informed about meeting of the President of Ukraine, Prime Minister, and the NSDC Secretary with chairpersons of factions where they discussed several topical issues, and "the President of Ukraine has submitted an initiative on canceling deputies' and judges' immunity".

Groysman said that leaders of all factions unanimously upheld the presidential initiative.

Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada claimed he instructed the Verkhovna Rada Secretariat to prepare this bill so that it could be voted for today and submitted to the Constitutional Court to start a procedure of "canceling unlimited, unreasonable, and shameful immunity of MPs and judges".  

"I am sure that today Ukrainian Parliament has to show its will and support the presidential initiative", he claimed. 

Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada expressed hope that the bill, submitted by the President of Ukraine, will be upheld by all MPs.

The Chairperson reminded that every Friday a Government Question Hour is conducted. He informed that Cabinet of Ministers members and Prime Minister Arsenii Yatseniuk are present in the session hall.

Minister of Defence Stepan Poltorak was the first to answer the questions.

The first question concerned the estimates of the Ministry of Defence. S.Poltorak reported on the main areas of expenses.

The next question was about the situation with field hospitals.

Then, Minister of Finance Nataliia Yaresko started answering the questions. She stated that "the terrorist war in the East of Ukraine is a part of an economic war that is being conducted against Ukraine". In order to win the war, we need to conduct financial mobilization as well.

N.Yaresko reported on two blocks of state budget that provoke lively discussions - funding local budgets and amending the Tax Code.

Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine Aivaras Abromavicius answered the question on privatization. He assured MPs that the Government is not planning to conduct privatization, and the whole agiotage in the Rada is present only because certain deputies protect certain state companies.   

Prime Minister Arsenii Yatseniuk added that it concerns such companies as "Ukrspyrt". 

He stressed that the Government left the list of only those strategic objects that are working for the benefit of the country. All the others should be sold at a public tender and be made to work for the sake of the country. 

Minister of Energy and Coal Industry of Ukraine V.Demchyshyn and Deputy Minister of Health of Ukraine A.tereshchenko answered the questions of MPs.

Prime Minister Arsenii Yatseniuk was asked why his faction (People's Front) did not uphold the bill on fighting against oligarchs. Addressing people's deputy O.Kuzhel, Arsenii Yatseniuk expressed regret that "Batkivshchyna" faction did not vote for the State budget, since this law stipulates funding the defence budget. 

The Prime Minister addressed the people’s deputies of Ukraine: "Even if you don't vote for changes to this bill, we will hold it, by the decision of the Government, like the previous shareholders' meeting. But, knowing the Ukrainian judicial system, I think we will have again two dozen court decisions, which we have today, concerning not only the Ukrnafta, but also other state-owned companies, which are offered to privatize on public competitions, but not to allow in the future to get money from these companies through corrupt schemes."

Government Question Hour came to an end.

At the demand of factions of Radical Party and “Samopomich”, Volodymyr Groysman announced break.

After the break, the Chairperson reminded that the President of Ukraine has referred the bill on lifting impunity of the people’s deputies and judges to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.

He granted the floor to the Representative of the President of Ukraine in the Verkhovna Rada Stepan Kubiv. He noted that the President of Ukraine has determined the draft law on amendments to the Constitution of Ukraine (re impunity of the people’s deputies of Ukraine and judges), registered under No. 1776, as an urgent and the one that should be primarily considered by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. 

S.Kubiv noted that the Constitution of Ukraine guarantees deputy immunity.

“In view of public moods, the necessity to lift deputy immunity arose,” he said, and added that the issue of lifting deputy immunity was frequently considered by the Constitutional Court of Ukraine.

Apart from this, the institute of judicial immunity requires significant refinement. It should be brought in line with European standards.

The bill aims at improving provisions of the Constitution of Ukraine re impunity of the people’s deputies and judges, and bringing the respective provisions of the Main Law of Ukraine in line with the international standards.

According to S.Kubiv, implementation of the bill does not require additional expenditures from the State Budget of Ukraine.

First Deputy Chairperson of the Committee on Judicial Policy and Justice Leonid Yemets reported the decision of the Committee to recommend the Verkhovna Rada include the bill into the agenda.

Representatives of deputy factions expressed their standings regarding the bill.

The people’s deputies called on to adopt this law, however, with consideration of the proposal that “all shall be equal to the law – the President, the people’s deputies and judges.”

The Verkhovna Rada included the draft law on amendments to the Constitution of Ukraine (re impunity of the people’s deputies of Ukraine and judges), registered under No. 1776, into the agenda b y 297 votes.

The Chairperson noted that results of this voting will be released.

Head of the National Bank of Ukraine Valeriia Hontareva informed about the state of money-and-credit system in Ukraine.

At the beginning of her speech, the people’s deputy O.Liashko came up to the tribune and prevented Head of the National Bank from delivering a speech.

Chairperson made an observation and claimed that he will adjourn the plenary meeting.

V.Hontareva informed about activity of the National Bank under her leadership. She spoke about devaluation of the national currency and monetary policy of the National Bank during the past year, etc.   

Head of the National Bank informed about the measures the National Bank will take this year.

Head of the National Bank noted that the National Bank will continue using the system of flexible exchange rate. 

Head of the National Bank responded to the questions of the people’s deputies.

Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada Volodymyr Groysman reminded that the meeting will end at 2 p.m.

The people’s deputies disagreed and demanded continuing plenary session.

The Presiding put to vote the proposal to continue plenary meeting till 3 p.m.

The proposal was not upheld.

Volodymyr Groysman informed that he continues the plenary meeting for 15 more minutes.

Chairperson announced that the Inter-faction union “For Kyiv” was established in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. Nataliia Novak and Ihor Lutsenko were elected co-chairpersons of the union.

Chairperson of the Parliament announced that the people’s deputy Viktor Bondar leaves the deputy group “People’s Will” and joins the deputy group “Economic Development”.

The people’s deputies did not uphold the suggestion of their colleague O.Liashko to place on the agenda the draft law on amendments to article 41 of the Law “On Joint-Stock Companies” (re quorum interest rate reduction), registered under No. 1778.

The repeated voting also failed (204 votes in favor).

The Presiding adjourned plenary session.

The people’s deputies will work in the committees, commissions and groups on January 19 – 23, and with the electorate on January 26 – 30.