Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Ukraine needs politics of a new quality - President Yushchenko

At his joint press conference with Hans-Gert Pottering, President of the European Parliament, President Victor Yushchenko said that to him the date of holding presidential election in Ukraine is not important.

"I repeat again that I am ready to make decision on declaring early presidential election in Ukraine. It does not matter to me how many months earlier the election will take place - either in October, or in September. What we are speaking now about, is that the opportunity to settle political situation should be used in only one way - we should hold simultaneous early parliamentary election.", - he said.

According to him, early parliamentary election would allow the conditions in the Verkhovna Rada that produce political crisis to change. "First, the Ukrainian parliament will have a coalition that will have majority of 226 votes and which will be able to any law: either on regulation of financial crisis, or on changing electoral system or any other", - he said.

He also stressed that it is necessary to alter electoral legislation introducing open ballot system and abolish deputies' immunity. In addition the Verkhovna Rada should vote bills on financing of the elections.

"I think that would be a proper compromise for all branches of power: to adopt a clear and understandable decision on holding early elections, thus bringing politics of a new quality and stability to the country", - he said.