Mykola Katerynchuk: Parliament unlawfully extended its office, violating all norms of law and democracy

“By adopting amendments to the Constitution, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine in unconstitutional manner independently extended for more than half of the year term of its office, violating all universally acceptable norms of law,” – commented on Leader of the European Party of Ukraine, Deputy of Ukraine Mykola Katerynchuk the President’s approved amendments to the Constitution in terms of powers of the Parliament.

“In general, arithmetic is simple. According to the Constitution of Ukraine of 1996 People’s Deputies of Ukraine are elected for four years. Regular elections to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine are held on the last Sunday of March of the fourth year of the Parliament. The Verkhovna Rada of this convocation was elected in October 2007. Instead, the Law of February 1, 2011 indicates that People’s Deputies of Ukraine are elected for five years. Otherwise, as nonsense, this fact can not be named “- he said. – “Moreover, the extension of office of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine from four to five years in conjunction with the provisions of the Constitution of Ukraine, which define a five-year term of office of the President of Ukraine, as well as provisions of the Law that increase from four to five years term of office of elected local governments, is in flagrant violation of articles 1, 5, 6, 7 and 8 of the Constitution of Ukraine and democratic principles generally accepted rule of law and power division and their basic guarantees – the system of checks and balances”

“Analysis of the constitutions of most democratic countries like Australia, the USA, France, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands and others indicates that different terms for state authorities office is one of the most essential elements of checks and balances that is the key to implementing democratic rule of law”, – stated Mykola Katerynchuk.

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The European Party of Ukraine