The draft law on national referendums will be considered in parliament no earlier than July, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Volodymyr Lytvyn has said.
According to him, this draft law, which has been adopted at first reading, could be submitted for consideration at second reading no earlier than in the plenary week of July 2-9.
According to him, the relevant committee will collect and summarize proposals submitted on this draft law until June 17, and then the bill should be amended, taking into account the proposals, before it is submitted for consideration at second reading.
"My position is that [the bill] should be brought in line with the Constitution of Ukraine," the speaker said
As reported, on June 3, the Ukrainian parliament, supported at first reading a draft law on national referendums in Ukraine.
The draft law sets out the legal basis for the organization and procedure for holding Ukrainian national referendums. In particular, it establishes that the subject of the referendum can be any issue, apart from those stipulated by the constitution as being not subject to a referendum.
According to the draft law, several issues connected to a single problem can be considered at a Ukrainian national referendum. A national referendum can be held to approve new wording of the Constitution, or introduce amendments, reject or recognize as invalid a law on amendments to the Constitution. A referendum also can be held regarding the issue of a change in the territory of Ukraine, and the adoption or cancellation of a law of Ukraine that amends the current laws of Ukraine.
The draft law also stipulates that the Ukrainian president calls a national referendum at the people’s initiative, if it was initiated in line with the laws of the continuation and the requirements on the organization and procedure for carrying a national referendum at the people’s initiative. The president and the Verkhovna Rada can also call or announce a national referendum.
Earlier, Lytvyn had said the draft law on national referendums should be amended, as it has some points that violate the Constitution.
