Ukraine Today - An Independent Political Review

Regum has published a opinion piece which I think is correct in part. Yes, it is too early for fresh parliamentary elections but that does not rule them out. It is only a matter of time. If elections were held next weekend, more the likely the results will be the same as they are now with Our Ukraine and Party of Regions likely to drop in support. As they say two weeks is a long time in politics. It is still way to early and a lot can change by the time autumn comes let alone the new year. Strategically Party of Regions will aim for a early 2009 election and they will also need to call for early presidential elections. As previously stated in this blog the calling of early elections under the provisions of Article 90 (3) is limited. As stated by Kost Bondarenko, "Elections are possible even out of nowhere with far-fetched reasons, as last year has shown. A will of the president is only needed for it. And the president can make unforeseen decisions. In fact, our law is being adjust...

Party of Regions window of opportunity to force early parliamentary elections before the scheduled presidential elections is limited. Published on Unian According to the English version of Ukraine`s Constitution, as supplied by the Ministry of Justice and published by the European Venice Commission, the authority of the president to dismiss the parliament can not be made until 12 months into the term of office of the current parliament and the parliament must not be able to commence its regular parliamentary sessions. (Articles 82, 83 and 90 of Ukraine`s Constitution) Regular parliamentary sessions are scheduled to commence in February and September of each year. A session can last for days, weeks or even months. Article 90 (3) states that if a regular session of parliament is not commenced within 30 days from the scheduled date then the president has the authority to dismiss the parliament. Once a session has commenced, as is the case with the current session, the 30 day limitation do...

The precedence and option for the opposition to force a government to early elections has bee set. Under the terms of Ukraine's constitution if 150 or more members of parliament give up their mandate and the parliamentary factions involved cancels their electoral list then the parliament on longer maintains competency. 30 days following the failure of the parliament to hold a regular session the President will have to hold fresh parliamentary elections. The earliest this can be done now is September/October. In Preparation for a November election. There is no secret that the President of Ukraine was plotting the downfall of the previous government before it was even elected. The legality of the president's actions in dismissing the previous stable parliament were never determined in a court of law. The President interfered with the operation and independence of Ukraine's Constitutional Court on the eve of the Court determination by illegally dismissing three Constitutio...