18 December 2012, 13:09
ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 18, A PLENARY MEETING OF THE FIRST SESSION OF THE VERKHOVNA RADA OF UKRAINE OF THE SEVENTH CONVOCATION WAS HELD.
At the beginning of the morning meeting the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Volodymyr Rybak announced the establishment of inter-faction deputy union “To facilitate the freedom of consciousness” headed by people’s deputy Hanna Herman within the Verkhovna Rada.
Authorized representatives of deputy factions took the floor with announcements, information, statements and proposals.
Summing up the speeches, V. Rybak assessed the first days of the Parliament’s work. He said that “the most discussed subject in society became a simple fight in the session hall.”
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine apologized before the Ukrainian voters for the behavior of everyone who participated in it.
“At the same time, the analysis of national and international mass media testifies, unfortunately, to the fact that there are destructive elements that have negative influence on the authority of the Ukrainian Parliament and on the image of the state in general.
Here is Berliner Kurier (Germany). And here is our Parliament in it. The faces are visible. Everything is here. And the article is entitled “Ukrainian Parliament is ready to fight”. To what kind of fight?” asked V. Rybak.
V. Rybak reminded that before the elections every parliamentary force that formed its faction on December 12 published its programs and has now bring them to life using parliamentary methods. “Apparently, it is necessary to create the atmosphere of trust in the Verkhovna Rada for every politician could defend his or her political beliefs but also listen to the ideas of others,” he stressed.
In this regard the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada noted that “the main legislative work should be concentrated in the committees of the Verkhovna Rada. First of all – on preparation of the bills that would promote establishment of European standards.” “We have to realize that the election campaign is now history and we need to rise above the party and personal interests and make the interests of people the basis of our work. It is only then that we will have luck,” stressed V. Rybak.
The Chairman informed about establishment of the inter-faction deputy union “The Capital of Ukraine” headed by people’s deputy Volodymyr Bondarenko.
ВV. Rybak reminded that on December 13 the President of Ukraine V. Yanukovych appointed with his decree people’s deputy M. Azarov to the post of the Prime Minister of Ukraine. In connection with this, M. Azarov submitted the application for early termination of his powers of a people’s deputy.
The Verkhovna Rada terminated the powers of people’s deputy M. Azarov by 268 votes.
The Chairman reminded that people’s deputies should consider the issue on committees, their subjects of competence and appointment of their heads. However, in connection with the fact that deputy factions have not determined everything yet, this issue would not be considered.
V. Rybak proposed to include into the agenda the issue on the procedure of highlighting the work of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the Seventh Convocation and on the planning calendar of the first session of the Verkhovna Rada of the seventh convocation.
People’s deputies supported the proposal by 353 votes.
The draft resolution on outlining the work of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the seventh convocation was presented by the Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Koshulynkyi.
The Verkhovna Rada passed the resolution by 357 votes.
Members of the Parliament considered and adopted by 243 votes the resolution on planning calendar of the first session of the Verkhovna Rada of the seventh convocation.
The Chairman adjourned the plenary meeting.
Under the planning calendar, on December 19-21 people’s deputies will be working in factions.
The next plenary meeting of the first session of the Verkhovna Rada of the seventh convocation will be held on Tuesday, December 25.