Party of Regions parliament faction member Nestor Shufrych called “absurd and legally illiterate” the statement of President of Ukraine Victor Yushchenko, who called on to open the regular parliament’s session on 22 January of the current year.
N.Shufrych claimed this in an exclusive interview with UNIAN.
N.Shufrych reminded V.Yushchenko that the opening dates of regular Verkhovna Rada sessions are fixed by the Constitution. In particular, the Constitution stipulates the first Tuesday of September and the first Tuesday of February, and this must not be cancelled by anybody, including the President.
However, if necessary, it is possible not to close the first session of parliament of the VI convocation, and keep on working for another two weeks, as there is really a number of pressing issues. According to N.Shufrych, these issues include adopting the law on impeachment, social laws, and publishing the law on VR ad hoc commissions.
“But I must stress, this statement indicates once again that there is no telling what Yushchenko will do, and he keeps on neglecting the Fundamental Law – the Constitution of Ukraine. This statement looks especially cynically, because it was issued on a working day, during the visit of Victor Yushchenko to the presidential holiday resort in the Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast. This resort was build in Kuchma’s times, and, by the way, Yushchenko vowed to give to children”, Shufrych pointed out.
As UNIAN reported earlier, on 8 January, President Victor Yushchenko wrote an official letter to Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada Arseniy Yatsenyuk. In his letter President suggested that parliamentarians cancel their winter recess. According to V. Yushchenko some urgent tasks stand before Verkhovna Rada therefore he proposed that deputies prove their will to effectively work for the good of nation and not interrupt their legislative work.
Regarding this President believes that new parliamentary session of the Verkhovna Rada should open on January 22, not in February as scheduled. V. Yushchenko confirmed his readiness to present before parliament an annual address. In this address he shall outline main directions of country’s development during this year as well as in the future.
