You're reading: Period of early parliamentary election campaign in Ukraine could be reduced from 60 to 45 days

The period of the early parliamentary election campaign in Ukraine could be reduced from 60 to 45 days, reads a statement posted on the Web site of the Verkhovna Rada on July 31, following a meeting held between President Petro Poroshenko, Parliament Speaker Oleksandr Turchynov, Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniuk and the leaders of parliamentary factions and groups.

“According to Verkhovna Rada Chairman Turchynov, during the meeting the sides discussed the holding of early parliamentary elections in 2014. Given the adoption by parliament of the law introducing amendments to Ukraine’s state budget for this year regarding a substantial reduction in budget expenditures, the meeting participants agreed on the need to reduce the cost of election procedures and reduce in this regard the period of the election campaign from 60 to 45 days,” reads the statement.

The report notes that the meeting between the head of state, the parliament speaker, the prime minister and the leaders of parliamentary factions and groups took place on July 31 after a plenary meeting of the Verkhovna Rada.

As reported, on July 24, Verkhovna Rada Chairman Oleksandr Turchynov officially announced the dissolution of the European Choice parliamentary coalition in Ukraine’s parliament. Earlier during the session on the same day, the UDAR, Svoboda factions and 19 independent MPs announced their exit from the coalition in the Verkhovna Rada.

If no new coalition is formed within 30 days following the previous one’s dissolution, this will entitle the president to dissolve the Verkhovna Rada and call early parliamentary elections.

Poroshenko said in parliament on Thursday that early parliamentary elections “are already a reality.”