13 March 2014, 18:39
PLENARY MEETINGS OF THE VERKHOVNA RADA OF UKRAINE OF THE SEVENTH CONVOCATION WERE HELD ON THURSDAY, MARCH 13.
227 people’s deputies registered for participation in the plenary meeting.
Having opened plenary session, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov granted the floor to representatives of deputy factions and groups in order to discuss session’s agenda.
Having made their proposals, representatives of coalition factions upheld the suggested agenda. They have also supported adoption of the Address of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to the United Nations.
Representatives of the Party of Regions and the Communist Party of Ukraine claimed that they will not vote on the outlined issues, and provided their explanations.
Oleksandr Turchynov suggested the people’s deputies to consider the draft resolution on the Address of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to the United Nations.
In the course of discussion, parliamentarians made several amendments to the text of address. The people’s deputy V.Lytvyn read out the text of Address with some specifications.
The Verkhovna Rada adopted the resolution in entirety by 250 votes and with consideration of the proposals made.
Factions of the Party of Region and the Communist Party of Ukraine demanded to be granted a floor.
Representative of the Party of Regions Hanna Herman drew attention to the attitude of the people’s deputies. She informed that one of the people’s deputies from the Party of Regions has registered a bill. According to her, “someone did not like the bill and the author was seriously threatened to withdraw the bill.”
H.Herman claimed that the faction of the Party of Regions cannot uphold adoption of the laws until Ukraine returns to the legal terrain.
The Presiding informed about the request to consider and adopt the draft resolution on approval of Ukraine’s course towards the European integration and the first steps to be taken in this direction.
The people’s deputies upheld the resolution by 252 votes in entirety.
Oleksandr Turchynov announced consideration of the issue on election of judges of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine and informed that he nominates five candidates: Melnyk Mykola Ivanovych, Sas Serhii Volodymyrovych, Slidenko Ihor Dmytrovych, Stretovych Volodymyr Mykolaiovych and Shevchuk Stanislav Volodymyrovych.
Deputy Chairman of the Committee on the Rule of Law and Justice Ronam Romaniuk reported the decision of the Committee to recommend the Verkhovna Rada uphold proposal of the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov on appointment of judges of the Constitutional Court.
Candidacies were discussed in the session hall.
Summarizing, Oleksandr Turchynov reminded that the Verkhovna Rada appoints judges of the Constitutional Court by secret voting.
The Presiding granted the floor to the Chair of the Counting Commission Hennadii Zubko, who has invited members of the Counting Commission to help organize secret voting.
Five bills on regaining trust in the court system of Ukraine were included into the agenda (Reg. No. 4378, 4378-1, 4378-2, 4378-3 and 4378-4).
Further on, people’s deputies considered two bills on the National Guard. The first bill was reported by the people’s deputy Oleksandr Turchynov. He suggested establish a separate military unit on the basis of internal military forces of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
The second bill was reported by the people’s deputy Yurii Syrotiuk. He asked to consider his bill not as an alternative one, since he was working on the bill not knowing that another bill is being under elaboration at the same time.
Andrii Kozhemiakin, Chair of the Committee on Legislative Support of Law Enforcement, and Oleksandr Kuzmuk, Chairman of the subcommittee of the Committee on National Security and Defence, were the co-rapporteurs.
Andrii Kozhemiakin noted that both bills are worth of proper attention, for they aim at establishing a new state body – the National Guard of Ukraine. The main difference lies in the fact that the bill registered under No. 4393 suggests establish the National Guard within the system of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, while the second one registered under No. 4393-1 suggests establish the National Guard as a separate state body of special purpose.
Andrii Kozhemiakin informed that the Committee recommends the Verkhovna
Rada adopt the bill registered under No. 4393-1 as a basis and in entirety with
consideration of proposals made by the author.
O.Kumzuk informed that members of the Committee on National Security and Defence confirm the necessity of adopting this bill. According to him, the Committee unanimously upheld the decision to adopt this bill as a basis and in entirety but with remarks of Legal Department and the Committee’s members. He suggested supplement the Law with two norms.
The Verkhovna Rada adopted the bill on the National Guard as a basis and in entirety with 262 votes.
Chairman of the Counting Commission H.Zubko reported on the Counting Commission’s meeting where a form of a secret voting ballot for appointing judges of the Constitutional Court was approved. He noted that the ballot includes five candidates and reported on the procedure of voting.
The Verkhovna Rada adopted the draft law on amendments to several legislative acts of Ukraine in connection with adopting the Law “On the National Guard”.
People’s deputy Serhii Pashynskyi reported on the draft law on rehabilitation of illegally convicted persons. He claimed that for the last four years the country was experiencing mass repressions. Moreover, law enforcement and legal systems used all instruments of pressure. He informed that the bill suggests establish a professional commission.
People’s deputies upheld the draft, but suggested exclude one norm.
With consideration of this remark the bill was adopted as a basis and in entirety.
Chairman announced a break in the plenary meeting from 12 p.m. till 1 p.m., during which people’s deputies participated in a secret voting for judges of the Constitutional Court.
After the break Oleksandr Turchynov suggested consider the draft resolution on maintaining unimpeded activity of mass media representatives in the pre-election period of 2014.
Following the results of the voting, this draft did not receive enough votes (200 in favour).
People’s deputies considered the draft law on amendments to the Law of Ukraine “On elections of the President of Ukraine” (re technical and legal improvement of the electoral process) in the second reading.
Secretary of the Committee on State Building and Local Self-Government Ruslan Kniazevych reported on this bill. He said that during its preparation for the second reading 191 proposals on improvement of electoral process of the Presidential elections were received, among which 122 were upheld fully, 19 – partially, 1 – with an editorial refinement, and 49 were rejected. The Committee suggested change a title of the bill – the Law “On elections of the President of Ukraine” and several other legislative acts of Ukraine re technical and legal improvement of the electoral process”.
MPs considered amendments to the bill. With consideration of some of them, the bill was adopted in entirety with 226 votes.
People’s deputies then returned to the draft resolution on maintaining unimpeded activity of mass media representatives in the pre-election period of 2014.
The draft resolution was adopted with 231 votes as a basis.
Following the results of the voting, draft law on amendments to several legislative acts of Ukraine re improvement of joint-stock companies’ activity was recommitted.
Chairman of the Counting Commission H.Zubko informed about results of the secret voting for judges of the Constitutional Court. He said that such candidates were included in the ballot: Melnyk Mykola Ivanovych, Sas Serhii Volodymyrovych, Slidenko Ihor Dmytrovych, Stretovych Volodymyr Mykolaiovych, and Shevchuk Stanislav Volodymyrovych.
Following the results of the secret voting, the Counting Commission established that Melnyk Mykola Ivanovych received 207 votes, Sas Serhii Volodymyrovych – 216, Slidenko Ihor Dmytrovych – 186, Stretovych Volodymyr Mykolaiovych – 173, Shevchuk Stanislav Volodymyrovych – 198.
The Counting Commission decided to recognize none of the candidates as those appointed for positions of the Constitutional Court judges.
H.Zubko claimed that “the situation is very complicated. There were statements from people’s deputies who made a mistake and did not put any marks. There were statements from people’s deputies who made a mistake and put six marks in a row. There are statements from people’s deputies who simply did not manage to vote in such a short period of time devoted to the voting. Thus, we ask to consider that such voting was not held for technical reasons”.
Factions’ representatives expressed disapproval of the secret voting results. They upheld the decision of the Counting Commission. People’s deputies suggested immediately remake a ballot and make it clearer.
Chairman invited leaders of deputies’ factions and groups to his office, and adjourned the morning meeting.
At the beginning of the evening meeting, Oleksandr Turchynov informed about meeting of the deputies’ factions and groups, and about meeting of the Committee on the Rule of Law and Justice. He said that there is going to be a secret voting for judges of the Constitutional Court.
Oleksandr Turchynov claimed that the Rules of Procedure does not prohibit entering the same candidacies. He also said that “there is no other option now; we will not leave until we elect judges of the Constitutional Court”.
Deputy Chairman of the Committee on the Rule of Law and Justice Roman Romaniuk informed that the Committee had just considered the submission of the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada on appointing judges of the Constitutional Court. Following the results of consideration, the Committee adopted the decision to recommend that the Verkhovna Rada appoint such judges of the Constitutional Court: Slidenko Ihor Dmytrovych, Shevchuk Stanislav Volodymyrovych, Melnyk Mykola Ivanovych, Sas Serhii Volodymyrovych, Stretovych Volodymyr Mykolaiovych.
Chairman gave the floor to Chairman of the Counting Commission H.Zubko who invited members of the Counting Commission to a meeting for approving a secret voting ballot.
After a few minutes, Chairman of the Counting Commission informed that members of the Counting Commission approved a sample of a secret voting ballot, and they suggest hold a secret voting from 4:45 p.m. till 5:45 p.m.
People’s deputies made a decision to continue the plenary meeting until the end of a secret voting and announcing of its results.
The Chairman announced a break during which a secret voting was held in the couloirs.
After the break, Chairman of the Counting Commission H.Zubko informed about results of a secret voting.
The ballot included candidacies of Melnyk Mykola Ivanovych, Sas Serhii Volodymyrovych, Slidenko Ihor Dmytrovych, Stretovych Volodymyr Mykolaiovych, Shevchuk Stanislav Volodymyrovych.
According to the Counting Commission, Melnyk Mykola Ivanovych received 245 votes, Sas Serhii Volodymyrovych – 257, Slidenko Ihor Dmytrovych – 239, Stretovych Volodymyr Mykolaiovych – 203, Shevchuk Stanislav Volodymyrovych – 244.
The Counting Commission acknowledged Melnyk Mykola Ivanovych, Sas Serhii Volodymyrovych, Slidenko Ihor Dmytrovych, Shevchuk Stanislav Volodymyrovych as appointed judges of the Constitutional Court.
The Chairman announced about appointing Melnyk Mykola Ivanovych, Sas Serhii Volodymyrovych, Slidenko Ihor Dmytrovych, Shevchuk Stanislav Volodymyrovych as judges of the Constitutional Court.
The Chairman informed about early termination of the powers of people’s deputy Serhii Sas according to a submitted statement in connection with his appointment for the position of a judge of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine.
People’s deputies approved early termination of the powers of people’s deputy Serhii Sas with 227 votes.
Newly appointed judges of the Constitutional Court took an oath to the Verkhovna Rada.
People’s deputies congratulated new judges of the Constitutional Court.
The Chairman adjourned the evening meeting.
Next plenary meeting will be held on Friday, March 14.