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Parliament sets parliamentary elections for October 2012, presidential elections for March 2015

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Feb. 1, 2011, 1:59 p.m. | Ukraine — by Interfax-Ukraine
The Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, has approved constitutional amendments setting the dates of the next presidential and parliamentary elections. A total of 310 MPs out of the 350 registered in the parliament's session hall voted for a bill of amendments to the Constitution of Ukraine. Fifteen parliamentarians voted against the document.

Such a decision was supported by 180 Regions Party MPs, seven BYT-Batkivschyna MPs, 41 Our Ukraine-People's Self-Defense MPs, 25 Communist Party MPs, 20 People's Party MPs, and 37 individual MPs.

As reported, on November 19, 2010, the Verkhovna Rada gave preliminary approval to constitutional amendments on the dates of the next presidential and parliamentary elections.

The law envisages that the president of Ukraine, the Verkhovna Rada, the Supreme Council of Crimea, deputies of local councils of all levels, and village, town, city heads are elected for five years. The document notes that regular presidential elections will be held on the last Sunday of March of the fifth year of the president's term, the parliamentary elections on the last Sunday of October of the fifth year of the parliament's term, and the local elections on the last Sunday of October of the fifth year of the terms of deputies of local councils of all levels and village, town, city heads.

According to transitional provisions, the next parliamentary election is to be held in October 2012 and the presidential election in March 2015.
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The Kyiv Post is hosting comments to foster lively debate. Criticism is fine, but stick to the issues. Comments that include profanity or personal attacks will be removed from the site. If you think that a posted comment violates these standards, please flag it and alert us. We will take steps to block violators.
Anonymous Feb. 1, 2011, 2:44 p.m.    

This frickin' clown will now be president until 2015? WTF!

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Anonymous Feb. 1, 2011, 3:01 p.m.    

Impeach him now!

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Anonymous Feb. 1, 2011, 4:37 p.m.    

And the US puppet was also president for five years (2005-2010)

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Anonymous Feb. 1, 2011, 7:28 p.m.    

Rather be a US than a Russian stooge.

US there is a future - Russia is nothing but a backwater about to collapse on itself

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Anonymous Feb. 1, 2011, 5:50 p.m.    

individual MP's are not allowed by ukraine's constitution , therefore this parliamentary vote is unconstitutional and meaningless -

therefore immediate parliamentary elections must be called now because they are breaking the law

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Anonymous Feb. 1, 2011, 7:02 p.m.    

No article in the Constitution states that individual MPs are not allowed.

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Anonymous Feb. 1, 2011, 8:30 p.m.    

The Imperative mandate requires member of parliament to remain aligned with the party/bloc that they ere elected under. It only directs them in matters of determining the formation of a governing coalition. It is up to the part to determine if the individual members have breached their undertakings when they were first nominated and included on the party list. The part/faction can take take steps to have their membership removed which in theory would also austomaticly remove their mandate and entitlement to remain members of parliament. Although this provison has not been fully tested in law.

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Anonymous Feb. 1, 2011, 8:23 p.m.    

This is a false statement.

Individual members of parliament do and have always had the right to vote as their mandate dictates.

The so called Imperative mandate rules only require a member of parliament to remain a member of the block/party in which they were elected to parliament. It does not dictate how they should vote.

Any amendments to the constitution needs to also be vetted and agreed to by the constitutional court.

The news article should provide a link to the exact working and details of the proposed amendments.

Amendments come into law hen they are confirmed by a constitutional majority of the parliament voting in a separate session. Assuming that the constitutional Court has already given consent to the proposed amendments then the passing of these amendments a second time this session has fulfilled the requirements under Ukraine's constitution. the question is it backdated. presumable under the transitional provisions it is.

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Anonymous Feb. 1, 2011, 11:01 p.m.    

the opposition blocs were denied their right to remove the individual members who after being bribed by party of regions decided to leave their bloc en masse ..

by not letting the elected blocs to replenish their own vacated MP 's at least 25% of the popular vote and people's will has been stolen from the electorate and the opposition blocs ...

this is not democracy this is corrupt dictatorship ...

therefore the ruling coalition of individuals, and POR , commies, is unconstitutional and immediate elections should be held ..

the court system is compromised as well unfortunately and their decisions are therefore irrelevant

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Anonymous Feb. 2, 2011, 2:32 a.m.    

That is not true. The parties have the right to remove or deny members mandate This has not been tested. the circumstances and reason for removal of mandate need to be tested on each case. But is is clear that the parties do have the right to withdraw membership.

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Anonymous Feb. 2, 2011, 9:35 p.m.    

thanks but whaT YOU SAY IS FALSE = the blocs parties were not allowed to get the back their seats to replace the corrupt individual MP's who took them to the party of regions dictatorial coalition ...

the individual MP's should be kicked out of the rada because they were not indicvidually elected only the bloc has those seats ..

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Anonymous Feb. 1, 2011, 10:59 p.m.    

When can Ukraine vote again on the status of the Black Sea Fleet?

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Anonymous Feb. 2, 2011, 2:30 a.m.    

2050. The blck sea fleet is not a major issue in Ukraine with many supporting its continuation.

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