Victor Yushchenko demands that the Constitution and the Verkhovna Rada procedure rules be observed when passing and signing a new bill on the Cabinet of Ministers, First Deputy Secretariat Chief of Staff Arseniy Yatsenyuk has told a new conference, according to the President`s press-office.
He said all the recent remarks on the unconstitutionality of the presidential veto “have no legal grounds at all.”
“As far as the insinuations about the lawfulness or illegality of his veto is concerned, the President’s decision is absolutely legal,” he said.
Mr. Yatsenyuk said, on December 21, the Verkhovna Rada had passed a Cabinet bill whose article 23 contained four items. Article 23 of the bill that was sent to the President for his approval had only three items, he explained. In fact, the President received a different bill and so vetoed it on January 19, he added.
Mr. Yatsenyuk said the President believed Ukraine “needs this law.”
“Moreover, he is sure it will be passed but in a version that does not violate the Constitution,” he said.
He said the President insisted that the Verkhovna Rada revise a few unconstitutional provisions. Unlike his previous veto containing 46 proposals, this veto has only eight suggestions. The President suggests bringing some of the unconstitutional clauses in line with the Constitution without changing the ideology of the law. His proposals give no additional powers to the President but also do not weaken the powers of the government.
“If the President’s proposals are rejected and the law on the cabinet of ministers is enacted, there will be grounds [to send a request to the Constitutional Court] to pronounce the measure unconstitutional,” he said.
