As an UNIAN correspondent reported, only 203 out of 251 deputies registered in the session hall voted for the bill at its first reading. The bill is entitled "On amendments to certain legislative acts of Ukraine to ensure the activities of the national anti-corruption bureau and the national agency on corruption prevention" (No. 1660-d).
The bill provides for the establishment of the post of investigator of the bureau. It is also envisaged that the president of Ukraine can choose from three candidates for the post of the Head of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau.
This issue stirred most of the debate in the session hall, with the Popular Front faction strongly opposing this proposal.
Samopomich MP Yehor Sobolev noted that the bill includes "three key ideas," in particular, the prohibition against employment in the National Anti-Corruption Bureau and specialized prosecution office of those who were previously involved in combatting corruption. Sobolev noted that the level of salaries for investigators of the bureau is envisaged at UAH 20,000. The bill envisages allowing the authorities to seize property owned by officials if the latter fails to explain its origin.
According to MP Sergiy Pashinsky (from the Popular Front faction), the bill provides the president with significant powers to influence these administrative institutions. He said that the head of the bureau should be appointed by Ukrainian parliament in order to maintain balance between the branches of government.
In response, MP from the Block of Petro Poroshenko faction Serhiy Leshchenko said that the position of the Popular Front faction indicates that it is acting under "oligarchic influences."
