03 February 2012, 16:34
Volodymyr Lytvyn does not see the necessity to stop broadcasting sessions of the Verkhovna Rada for the period of election campaign.
Volodymyr Lytvyn does not see the necessity to stop broadcasting sessions of the Verkhovna Rada for the period of election campaign. He said this in his radio interview to the "Ukrayinskyi vymir (Ukrainian Dimension)" program (First Ukrainian Radio Channel) on Friday. "I will not initiate stop of the Verkhovna Rada sessions broadcasting not to be accused of attempts to strangle freedom of speech and transparency," said V. Lytvyn and added that he thinks broadcasting is necessary, as "smart people see the words, the beliefs, and actual actions."
According to the leader of the Parliament, broadcasting sessions will discipline the deputies. "Verkhovna Rada is a place, where people?s representatives should speak on behalf of the nation, and therefore we need an understandable election reform," he said.
V. Lytvyn stressed that he "is totally against list elections", and believes that elections "should take place in districts, and people should know their representatives". The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada believes that "in such case there would be no barbarity we witness sometimes in the session hall, when deputies block, break, use tear gas, etc."
The Chairman of the parliament hopes that next elections will be held on the 50/50 principle and will make the Verkhovna Rada much more responsible. He also is in favor of lowering the vote threshold for parties.