Thursday, February 16, 2012

Ukraine

Ukrainian Parliament Again Tries To Pass Election Law

President Viktor Yushchenko (file photo) (ITAR-TASS)

June 1, 2007 -- Parliament in Ukraine is expected to meet again today to try to pass a series of laws needed to hold early elections in September.

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June 01, 2007

On May 31, President Viktor Yushchenko gave lawmakers another day to pass the legislation after they missed a midnight deadline the day before.

The snap elections are part of a deal reached between Yushchenko and his rival Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych to end weeks of political instability.

In April, Yushchenko issued decrees dissolving parliament. But in order to enable the Verkhovna Rada to pass the laws needed for early elections, he overturned that decision and allowed the chamber to meet in recent days.

(compiled from agency reports)

Ukrainian Voices

RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service asked people on the streets of Kyiv on April 11 whether the Constitutional Court will be able to determine the constitutionality of the president's decree dissolving parliament.

Oksana, a student from Lutsk:
"Their decision will at any rate be beneficial to one of the political forces."

Oleksandr, a high-school student:
"[The court] will be able to do it, but only if the judges agree upon it."

Alla Asilyevna, a pensioner:
"How can the Constitutional Court solve the problem if there is pressure on it from all sides?"

Ivan Yukhimovich, a pensioner:
"If [Prime Minister Viktor] Yanukovych and [President Viktor]Yushchenko find an agreement, everything will be resolved."

Yuliya, a worker:
"I doubt very much that the judges will agree on anything."

RFE/RL's coverage of Ukraine. The Ukrainian-language website of RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service.

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