The Ukrainian presidential candidate, leader of the Batkivschyna Party, and former prime minister, Yulia Tymoshenko, has suggested holding a referendum on the day of the presidential election that will include the issues of the country's foreign policy, the government system and relations with NATO.
“At present, people in eastern and southern Ukraine live with the
idea of a referendum. I would like to offer the people of Ukraine, and
the political elite to put several issues to a referendum, and it would
be good to hold it during the presidential elections,” she said on
Thursday at a meeting with representatives of the Ukrainian Council of
Churches and Religious Organizations.
According to Tymoshenko, Ukraine needs to clearly define its foreign policy strategy.
“If this is the European Union, the issue of the EU membership should
be put on the agenda, because we need to decide, we cannot be in a
‘gray zone’,” she said.
The Batkivschyna leader also suggested asking Ukrainian people in a
referendum whether they want Ukraine to be a unitary country with local
government having more powers.
“I believe that it is also time to raise the third issue – how
Ukrainians see the way to protect our borders, including by military
means. Do Ukrainians support the accession to NATO or maintaining
neutral status,” Tymoshenko said.
