Are Kuchma supporters ready to vote for Our Ukraine's political reform?

The Our Ukraine faction categorically rejected the possibility of voting for political reform draft law No. 4180, which, in the opinion of its representatives, is identical to draft law No. 4105 on introducing amendments to the Constitution, which was not voted on in April, but intends to support draft law No. 3207-1, whose provisions are close to the draft law developed by the faction.

The unresolved point of draft law No. 3207-1 at present is its transitional provisions - Our Ukraine insists on this law taking effect in 2006, while the majority insists on 2004.

Moroz reported that an agreement on support by the majority factions for draft laws No. 3207-1 was reached on Tuesday during a meeting of the working group. "This was discussed, if Our Ukraine undertakes to vote in the first and second readings and in the final vote," the Socialist Party leader said.

Responding to a question about the possible development of events if Our Ukraine insists on the law taking effect from 2006, Moroz said: "We are for this, but we understand perfectly well that in this case 140 parliament deputies will vote. Why then engage in foolishness? We are looking for a compromise that will yield more than 300 votes."

The leader of the SPU faction also suggested that the situation will change in the autumn, and Our Ukraine may vote "for" sooner than others.

Draft law No. 3207-1 (authors - Anatoliy Matviyenko, Viktor Musiyaka, Oleksandr Moroz, Yuriy Klyuchkovsky and others) received a positive conclusion from the Constitutional Court.

The draft law proposes, in particular, reducing the number of deputy votes required for the Verkhovna Rada to adopt a decision on removing the president of the country from office through impeachment, and granting the prime minister the right to appoint and dismiss heads of state administrations.

The draft also provides for the introduction of an imperative mandate. The president is granted the right to dissolve parliament early if, within 30 days of a regular session, plenary sessions of the Verkhovna Rada cannot begin, or if, within 60 days after the Cabinet of Ministers is sworn in (resigns), parliament has not approved a new composition of the government.

An administrative-territorial reform is also envisaged, in particular, providing for granting the status of communities to one or several populated areas.

Draft law No. 4180 (authors - Stepan Havrysh, Raisa Bohatyryova and others) is in fact identical to draft law No. 4105, which was not supported by deputies.

It provided for a redistribution of powers between parliament and the president with the aim of establishing a parliamentary-presidential form of government, the election of the president of Ukraine through a nationwide vote, the formation of a government by a coalition of deputy factions, extending the term of parliament's powers to 5 years, and the introduction of an imperative mandate.