Parliament Has Become History

Opening the meeting of People’s Deputies at Ukraine House last F riday, Mr. Medvedchuk said it would go down in history. The first item on the agenda was, predictably, the dismissal of Speaker Tkachenko and Deputy Speaker Martyniuk. The draft resolution read: “In connection with the gross and systematic violations of the regulations and laws of Ukraine by Oleksandr Tkachenko and Adam Martyniuk, they shall be relieved of their posts.” This proposal was supported by 239 deputies. It is quite noteworthy that the next decision of the “democratic majority” was formation of an ad hoc commission to inquire into Mr. Tkachenko’s activities (supported by 206 votes) chaired by Yaroslav Kendzior. This commission is should to be an additional argument for Mr. Tkachenko to leave the post of Speaker.

The deputies also discussed the appointment of Volodymyr Stelmakh as governor of the National Bank of Ukraine. He was appointed to this office almost without debate by 239 votes.

228 deputies also supported the proposal by Les Taniuk to put the state insignia of Ukraine on the facade of and inside the Verkhovna Rada building in place of the remaining Soviet one. The issue of parliamentary immunity was debated in a very tense atmosphere. Two bills were discussed. One of them suggested that Article 80 of the Constitution of Ukraine be amended with the following: “People’s Deputies of Ukraine shall not be brought to criminal responsibility, detained or arrested pending conviction by court, without consent of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.” The other bill, drawn up by deputies Omelchenko and Yermak, suggested that Article 105 of the Constitution be amended with a clause that the President may be taken to court with the consent of two-thirds of Verkhovna Rada. Most of the deputies supported the former proposal, and at last the resolution on parliamentary immunity was passed with the wording “... pending the coming into force of conviction by court.” Closing the meeting, Viktor Medvedchuk said the Deputies still had time for consultations. They should use it to choose a candidate for the future Verkhovna Rada Speaker so that he can be elected as soon as February 1.