You're reading: Analyst: Martyniuk or majority representative could take up post of parliament speaker

First Deputy Parliament Speaker and Communist Party MP Adam Martyniuk or a representative of the majority could take up the post of Verkhovna Rada chairman, Director of the Kyiv-based Center for Political and Conflict Studies Mykhailo Pohrebynsky has said.

“This decision of the Constitutional Court leaves no alternatives. These 300 votes [are not required by] the constitution,” he said in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine on Thursday, while commenting on the Constitutional Court’s decision on the procedure for electing parliament speaker.

Pohrebynsky also added that “if [Parliament Speaker Volodymyr] Lytvyn is dismissed, it will be very good. I think it will be a proper and fair decision. He believes that the parliament takes decisions by a majority, but he just delivers ultimatums – whether he will sign something or not… I think that it’s time to dismiss him.”

“It was an absolutely clear decision. Take, for example, the article of the constitution, which says how the speaker is elected. Where does it contain a provision about 300 votes so as to create difficulties or reassure a person that he will not be dismissed earlier than scheduled?” said the analyst.

He also predicts a representative of the pro-governmental majority could be the next speaker.

“Of course, it would be natural that it will be a representative of the Regions Party, but, in principle, Martyniuk can also take up this post,” he said.