The Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, has terminated the powers of Our Ukraine-People's Self-Defense MP Viktor Matchuk.
A total of 298 MPs out of the 388 registered in the parliament’s session hall on Tuesday voted for such a decision.
Matchuk, while speaking at the morning session of parliament,
announced his desire to resign as a lawmaker and asked his colleagues to vote
for such a decision.
“Given the fact that on July 2, I terminated my membership of the Our
Ukraine Party, I think it is impossible for me to remain in the
Verkhovna Rada of the sixth convocation, to which I was elected on the
list of the Our Ukraine Party,” he said.
Matchuk quit the Our Ukraine Party and therefore resigned as an MP.
“A political project on the basis of the Our Ukraine Party is
currently being created. I made several public statements that Our
Ukraine or any other political party or political project that does not
have a chance to gain 5% should not participate in these elections
[parliamentary elections in Ukraine on October 28]. My position has not
been taken into account when forming the decision of the political
council of the Our Ukraine Party… I just wrote a statement and quit
Our Ukraine. But since I came to parliament on the lists of Our Ukraine,
I consider it immoral to continue staying within these walls, ceasing
to be a member of Our Ukraine,” he told reporters on July 2.
