People's Deputy of Ukraine, Deputy Chairman of the People's Party, Head of the Regional Organization of the People's Party Kateryna Vashchuk visited several districts in Volyn, met with voters, and held a press conference for journalists from our region's mass media. In particular, Kateryna Vashchuk informed about events in parliament and the party, and about what the People's Party parliamentary faction is working on.

As the people's deputy noted, the faction supported the new government and supported the budget.

Its social orientation is indisputable. But the economic component of the budget is cause for concern. After all, 82 percent of funds are directed to social expenditures. Thus, the economy, including agriculture, is underfunded. The faction submitted 30 amendments to the budget. Many of them were taken into account. The faction defended certain provisions in the taxation system in the agro-industrial complex. Thus, one and a half billion hryvnias will remain in the village. Only land payment will remain, and there will be no tax on household plots.

One cannot accept that, for example, electricity payments in rural areas are significantly higher than in industry. The faction defends the interests of those villagers who have the right to take a preferential pension before retirement age. So they defended one and a half billion hryvnias in the budget specifically for these purposes.

Kateryna Vashchuk spoke with particular concern about the provision for the maximum reduction of customs tariffs on the import into Ukraine of agricultural goods. She believes this is a tragedy for the Ukrainian agricultural sector. After all, Ukraine can provide itself with food products by 94 percent. Currently, only meat is in short supply. But poultry farming is developing intensively and there are already 300 thousand tons of domestic chicken meat. For some reason, the government does not direct funds to develop its own production, but instead provides preferences for the import of foreign products. Unfortunately, this applies not only to meat, but also to lard, butter, potatoes — in fact, almost all agricultural products. Frankly speaking, this is the destruction of domestic agricultural production. There are hopes that the government will still listen to the deputy-agrarians.

Kateryna Vashchuk also dwelt on miscalculations in the selection and appointment of people to various leadership positions based on political affiliation rather than professionalism. The people's deputy informed those present about other issues and problems that the Verkhovna Rada is dealing with, and answered journalists' questions.

– President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko stated that in the next elections the newly created party "People's Union 'Our Ukraine'" will go together with other political forces, in particular with the People's Party. How did your party react to this?

– The party leader Volodymyr Lytvyn states that a final statement on this will be made after consultations, and much will depend on the position of the new government. I can say only one thing: whatever happens, we will cooperate.

– In the districts, the organizations of the former Agrarian Party were headed by people who no longer work as managers. Will they continue to head party organizations or should they give way to other people?

– We will see whether these people were genuine leaders, or whether everything rested only on the fact that they held positions. Depending on that, we will make decisions.

– What percentage threshold does the People's Party plan to overcome in the next elections?

– Our faction will vote for the passage to parliament to require no less than five percent of the votes that a particular party must gain in elections. For ourselves, we plan to gain no less than fifteen percent in the next elections.

Anastasiia FILATENKO