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Viktor Yanukovych: The historical moment should be used
05.09.2008, 12:42
The break-up of the parliamentary majority in Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine did not surprise the Party of Regions.
We have been forecasting it since the first days of existence of the so-called democratic coalition. We also warned about it earlier, when the President by the BUYT initiative trampled down the Constitution, disbanded Verkhovna Rada, proclaimed political expedience over the right and law.
Whether the orange coalition will be formally kept up over the coming days does not matter much. The new political reality which was triggered by the ruling forces' failure to unite is of key importance.
It is in the public interest to use the historical moment and overcome the obstacles on the way to profound social-economic and political reforms.
First of all, it is necessary to eliminate the people's dependence on the poorly thought-out actions of the authorities. Wars between the present President and Prime Minister caused catastrophic consequences. They resulted not only in record inflation but also in the public disappointment that the political elites are able to put the national interests above the narrow party ones.
Meanwhile, it is impossible to lead the country onto a broad path of growth without the public support. The only motivation able to mobilize the society's potential again is consolidation of the main political forces represented in parliament.
It is time the division into "democrats" and "non-democrats" was declined.
On the Party of Regions' initiative the consolidation process has already begun and is forging ahead. The step perceived by some people as a plot of anti-Ukrainian forces, in fact, leads to enhancement of parliamentary democracy as the most optimal form of public administration.
The society where all important decisions are made collectively in the representative bodies of power is secured against authoritarianism.
It should be additionally ensured by the legislatively envisaged citizens' right to initiate and hold All-Ukrainian and local referendums on all major issues of the country and regions.
Parliament should become a body which forms the government's full composition led by its head, provides the Cabinet of Ministers with the conditions to carry out its functions and exercises control over its performance.
At the same time, the Party of Regions calls on to create efficient mechanisms of counterbalance in the system of functioning of all branches of power.
Ukraine should remain a republic with the parliamentary-presidential form of government, where the country's head will have enough plenary powers to assure absolute observance of the current Constitution.
The supremacy of right should be established in Ukraine once and forever. To this end a reform of legal proceeding should be implemented immediately. Judges should be elected by the people.
The first-priority task is to change the electoral system. The party lists should be made open. Voters should know whom personally they delegate a right to represent their interests in the highest legislative body of state.
Power should be decentralized through delegating maximum authority to the local communities, which independently, without pressure from higher institutions, will form their own executive committees. Most issues should be settled at a local level, including the use of mother tongue – Ukrainian, Russian or another considered by a person as native – under the Constitution and the European Charter of Regional Languages or Languages of Minorities.
We campaign for a reform of staff policy in the entire system of bodies of power, when the concept "party membership" will be finally replaced with the notion "professionalism".
Today Ukraine is being faced with the moment of truth. Parliament work is unblocked. It began to work quickly and concertedly.
In this situation the Party of Regions underlines again that it is ready to co-operate for the sake of reforms, for the sake of consolidation and peace with all responsible political forces.
We are aware of the fact that any party or block represented today in parliament is not able to cover Ukraine on its own against the threats impending over it. It is our common business and our common duty to the Ukrainian people.
There is no alternative to peace and consolidation. | |
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