Volodymyr Lytvyn: "It is Crucial to preserve Parliamentarism, thus preserving Democracy and Ukraine"

Volodymyr Lytvyn: "It is Crucial to preserve Parliamentarism, thus preserving Democracy and Ukraine"

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the Sixth Convocation passed "a point of no return", thus the Ukrainian Parliament of the current convocation will finish its constitutional term with understanding and constructive work.  Volodymyr Lytvyn, Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, made this statement in his speech at the closing of the seventh session of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the Sixth Convocation.

V.Lytvyn regards the session as "exhausting, tough and complicated."

The Head of the Parliament admitted that it had still been special. "Coming elections will pressurize the Verkhovna Rada, so it would be clear that we would have to report to the public not for our words, but for the actions that brought about feasible results," he stated.

Another peculiarity of the session is the work of the Parliament in the new constitutional framework, "when the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine lacked such a substantial argument in its relations with the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the judicial system as the influence on the personnel appointments."

It gave rise to the claim that the Verkhovna Rada played a minor role. Still, V.Lytvyn stated that the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine had worked in a similar constitutional framework before 2006.  "A compromise and the attempts to reach it do not mean renunciation," V.Lytvyn stressed. "The Verkhovna Rada should not try to please everyone." He quoted Napoleon, "If everyone likes you, then you don't exist." "We should sustain a balanced stance for the benefit of Ukraine. The interests of parties should be kept in line with it. Moreover, the Verkhovna Rada retains its supervisory and representative functions," V.Lytvyn stated.

The Head of the Parliament declared, "We realize that the Verkhovna Rada is the center of dialogue and compromise. It is the strength of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine." He thanked the People´s Deputies for "reaching the compromise." "The ability to reach a compromise will be seen as strength, not weakness of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine," V.Lytvyn stressed.   

According to V.Lytvyn, the third peculiarity of the current session is the fact that the constitutional changes greatly influenced the organization of the Verkhovna Rada. Thus, the constitutional requirement concerning the formation of the coalition in the Verkhovna Rada is no longer valid, "so, the majority was natural."   

V.Lytvyn stated, "The majority and the opposition adapted to the situation by conflicts and confrontations. There were also acute confrontations, which disrupted 8 out of 58 plenary meetings. This figure is relatively low. Nonetheless, 100 important issues were scrutinized." He stressed, "It is crucial to preserve parliamentarism, thus preserving democracy and Ukraine." V.Lytvyn deems necessary to demonstrate corporate solidarity to make the Verkhovna Rada more authoritative.   

V.Lytvyn attaches great importance to the fourth peculiarity of the sixth session: the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted fundamental systemic laws. Thus, 21 Laws out of those signed by the President have been adopted in new or revised versions. The Tax Code is a glaring example.

The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine singled out the fifth peculiarity of this session, namely, increase of the Parliament´s dominance in the legislative process. Thus, 758 bills were scrutinized, out of which 21 were drafted by the President of Ukraine, 138 by Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, 3 by the National Bank of Ukraine, 596 by the People´s Deputies of Ukraine. More than 300 resolutions were scrutinized. "It proves that the understanding with other institutions of power have been reached. The number of vetoed Laws is significantly lower," Volodymyr Lytvyn emphasised.

Speaking on the drawbacks of the current session, V. Lytvyn focused on the growing rejection of the bills. According to him, 70% of the bills drafted by the People´s Deputies were withdrawn. However, it did not concern the presidential and governmental bills. "None of the presidential bills was negatively evaluated", he stressed. V. Lytvyn suggested that the bills became personal for the quality of the legislative acts to increase.

According to the Chairman of the Ukrainian Parliament, the seventh peculiarity of this session is intensification of international activity of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. "I am convinced that we do need a dialogue, which should be conducted by the Parliament", Volodymyr Lytvyn stressed. He announced that the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine delegations had made seven official visits to the foreign states and, correspondingly, seven official visits of foreign delegations had been held in the Ukrainian Parliament. "Our activity in the international parliamentary organizations became more noticeable. Ukraine took over presidency in PABSEC, resumed its work in the joint commissions and assemblies, established effective cooperation between the friendship groups. It is a good sign, which should be given a new impulse", V. Lytvyn emphasised.

The Head of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine attaches great importance to the next session, as "it requires special determination, responsibility, tolerance and competence." "I hope we will guarantee the efficient work li line with the principles of our party. There are at least 1100 bills under consideration, 160 of which are being adjusted for the second reading. Thus, we have a lot of work since February 1", V. Lytvyn stated.

Volodymyr Lytvyn, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, adjourned the seventh session of the Parliament.