Ukraine Today - An Independent Political Review

On March 25, Ukraine's Supreme Administrative Court ruled on the legality of the President's controversial decree , interfering with the operation and independence of Ukraine's Constitutional Court, by dismissing three Constitutional Court Judges. The President's actions came under harsh criticism and was seen by many as an attempt by the President to pervert the course of justice by preventing the Constitutional Court from ruling on the question of legality of the President's dismissal of Ukraine's parliament in 2007. Two of the three judges later resigned and a third Judge, Suzanna Stanik, challenged the the authority of the president's actions. Article 149 of Ukraine's Constitution states : "Judges of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine are subject to the guarantees of independence and immunity and to the grounds for dismissal from office envisaged by Article 126 of this Constitution, and the requirements concerning incompatibility as determined ...

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...

Ukraine Radio 29-01-2008 18:04 Lytvyn's bloc faction in parliament supports idea of holding referendum on Ukraine's accession to NATO This was stated by the bloc's MP Mykhailo Syrota while on a trip to Donetsk. He noted that in case such a referendum is held his political force will support Ukraine's neutrality. Mr. Syrota also believes that the Party of Regions and the president have the same position on Ukraine's NATO membership, which is confirmed by the party member Rayisa Bohatyriova's joining the president's team as the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council.

A recent article published in the EU Observer indicates that Europe wants political stability in Ukraine before they embrace Ukraine ad offer membership. The best way forward for Ukraine to establish political stability is for Ukraine to complete its transition from a Presidential 'rule by decree' dictatorship to a full Europe Parliamentary 'rule of law' democracy. Ukraine must look to Europe for its political and Constitutional reforms ad ot the USA if it wants to become a part of the EU. EU wants 'political stability' in Ukraine before closer ties 29.01.2008 - 09:19 CET By Elitsa Vucheva EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Ukraine needs to show political stability, as well as more political and economic reforms, in order for the country to win closer relations with the EU, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said on Monday (28 January). "To achieve progress, we need political stability, we need a Ukraine that is really committed to political and econo...

Ukraine must not make heroes out of those that supported the NAZI invasion and extermination of Ukrainian Jewish families in shameful racist pogroms. The rise of neo-NAZIs supported by US extremists whose tools of trade are threats,. abuse and intimidation is of growing concern. Their hidden agenda is not support for Ukraine or its economic or democratic development but their desire to spread their false ideology of hatred and violence. BRUSSELS (EJP)---European Jewish Congress President, Moshe Kantor, has warned against the rising number of neo-Nazis in Europe. Speaking at a special commemoration organized Monday evening in the European Parliament on the occasion of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Kantor said : "There are more neo-Nazis than Jews today in Europe." Kantor, who lost half of his family in the Shoah or Holocaust in Ukraine, deplored the " trivialization" of the neo-Nazi phenomenon and warned that "lessons of history have not been learn...