Ukraine Today - An Independent Political Review

by Vasyl Panfilov, for UP Source : Original article in Ukrainian by Vasyl Panfilov, UCIPR analyst (www.ucipr.kiev.ua), for UP Another intrigue surrounding the future of the political reform concerns the Constitutional Court of Ukraine. Specifically, the Kommersant-Ukraina published information that on February 15, 2006, the Constitutional Court of Ukraine voted on the law "On Amending the Law of Ukraine "On the Constitutional Court" prohibiting the Constitutional Court from reconsidering the political reform provisions."The draft decision on reversal of the law was supported just by six judges out of the required minimum of ten votes. Despite the fact that voting did not produce a final result, it is safe to conclude that the Constitutional Court will not allow reconsideration of the constitutional reform," the newspaper wrote. Nevertheless, the next day, at his first press conference as Chairman of the Constitutional Court, Ivan Dombrovsky denied information o

Corresspondence received by a number of sources has confirmed that the English translation version of Ukraine's constitution as published on the Ukrainain President's Official Web site is outdated and false. The version published by the Venice Commission ( copy here ) is the updated version as provided by Ukraine's Justice Ministry. A number of commentators and reports in the western media has incorrectly stated that the President has the power to appoint the Prime-minster, the Foreign Affairs Minister and the Defence Minister. Article 85 of Ukraine's constitution states The authority of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine comprises: (12) appointing to office - upon the submission by the President of Ukraine - the Prime Minister of Ukraine, the Minister of Defence of Ukraine, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine; appointing to office - upon the submission by the Prime Minister of Ukraine - other members of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, the Chairperson of the Anti

US deploys its unipolar defence policy showing contempt of other European Countries and members of NATO The Day has published a very interesting and tell tail interview with US Ambassador to Ukraine, William Taylor. (Copy published below) In what the US claims to be a military installation that is designed to protect both Europe and the US you would think that the US would have consulted and sought the approval of the EU member stats and as a minimum the membership of NATO. It seams that the US has decided to pursue its own agenda and snub the opinion of NATO and the European Union. When asked if the United States was talking to the European Union and other member states the US ambassador replied " I have not heard of conversations with the European Union, primarily because this is not within the competence of the European Union. This question is clearly within the competence of individual member states. When asked about consensus with the members states who are part of NATO and i

Our Ukraine and Yulia Tymoshenko's back to together again alliance is very much in favour of the Presidential camp and not so favourable for Yulia or Ukraine. The basis of the agreed positions between Our Ukraine and BYuT underpins the power of the President who as a result of the agreement it is said is embarking on a policy of revenge aimed at destabilising Ukraine's Parliamentary system of Governance. The President has two very powerful entitlements under the provisions of Ukraine's constitution. 1) the power of veto 2) the right to suspend actions of the Cabinet of Ministers that he considers to be unconstitutional The first power is readily open to abuse. The President can for what ever reason he considers appropriate veto and legislation put forward by the Government. We saw the abuse of this power when Viktor Yushchenko sought to veto the second passing of the Law on the Cabinet of Ministers . The law as presented to him a second time had a typographical error in i

TAMMY LYNCH, the Institute for the Study of Conflict, Ideology and Policy (A US Boston University "Think Tank") has published an opinion piece on the Universities web site. (Copy below) Ms Lynch in this article makes her assessment in relation to recent political events in Ukraine in relation to the resignation of Ukraine's Foreign Minister, Borys Tarasyuk, and the government's "Law on Cabinet of Ministers" which Tammy Lynch claims the Parliament is usurping the President's authority. Her assessment is based on a number false assumptions which brings the content of her article into question. Borys Tarasyuk, the former Foreign Affairs Minister, resigned following a vote of no-confidence in his role of Ukraine's Foreign Minister. The vote of no-confidence was supported by over 2/3rds of Ukraine's elected Parliament. the Parliament effectively sacked Borys Tarasyuk, removing him from the post of Foreign Minister, and for good cause. Under Ukraine&#

Spring Attack Warning - Olexander Moroz Viktor Yushchenko, "Our Ukraine" and Yulia Tymoshenko must think twice before opening Pandora's box. Olexander Moroz. leader of the Socialists Party of Ukraine, today express his concern that Ukraine's President and his Party Our Ukraine and Yulia Tymoshenko bloc are actively planning to destabilize Ukraine's political and democratic development in the hope of securing fresh parliamentary election that will see them elected to a more favourable position that what they managed to achieve in the March 2006 Parliamentary election. There is no justification that warrants the dismissal of the governing coalition which was formed after Our Ukraine failed to compromise and negotiate a role and position in the parliamentary government. The March 2006 Parliamentary elections were acknowledged by all major political forces and international observers to have been a fair and democratic contest. If the President summarily dismisses the

Ukraine continues to be divided over the issue of language. An issue that is in the forefront of Ukrainian ultra-nationalist's political agenda. An issue that if left alone would resolve itself. There are far more important issues that confront Ukraine and linguistics is the least of them all. Yes Ukrainian should be taught in Schools and no one objects to it being the official language, but does it need to be the only language that is used or allowed? Victor Yuschenko, only this week, called upon the Government to impose the requirement that Cinemas in Ukrainian must be dubbed in Ukrainian. There is nothing worst then listening to a poor voice over dubbing of Ukrainian over a Russian speaking movie. In fact it is arguable that all voice over movies should be banned and replaced with subtitles if only for the viewers enjoyment. Freedom from bad quality voice overs. Technology is such that consumers can be offered a choice of language. The market and consumers should be able to deci

Latest polling figures published by Interfax proves interesting reading. If fresh Parliamentary elections were held today, Viktor Yanukovych, Party of Regions would secure 50% of the Parliamentary positions. And depending on who Party of regions supported for the President's job their nominee would face Yulia Tymoshenko in a run off battle for President, with the incumbent President, Viktor Yushchenko, on 11% loosing in the first round. The poll indicates that only 59.7 percent would vote for a political party that exceeds the arbitrary 3% threshold level. That leave 30% of Ukrainians disenfranchised . Clearly there is need for electoral reform. Under the current system Party of Regions would see their 29.9% of the vote elect 50% of the positions available. The adoption of a preferential voting system would allow voters who support minor parties to choose who should represent them in the parliament as opposed to the scaling up of the votes that support parties that exceed the 3% th

Ukraine is once again about to embark on a series of debates and potentially futile exercise of seeking further Constitutional reform. There is almost unanimous opinion that Ukraine's Constitution is in need of serious review but the problems lies in the detail and the policy of reform. Ukraine has made considerable steps towards democratic reform. Its decision to move towards a Parliamentary democracy as opposed to the previous system of governance by presidential decree was a step in the right direction. It has brought Ukraine more in line with other Western/European democracies along with the adoption of Parliamentary democracy is a significant improvement in the number and extent of checks and balances that were not previously available under the old Presidential dictatorship model . The problem Ukraine now faces is that there is wide disagreement within the Presidential and Parliament camps about the extent and direction of the political reform. Ukraine's political divide.