The Verkhovna Rada amended the Constitution, approved the draft amendments to the constitution on local self-government, and amended the law on presidential elections. \n \n402 people's deputies voted for the corresponding decision, including 78 deputies from "Our Ukraine" and 1 deputy from the BYuT. \n \nAfter the vote, Speaker Lytvyn and President Kuchma signed the drafts, demonstrating the decision to the hall. \n \nBefore that, Kuchma stated that the Prosecutor General had submitted a resignation letter, which he intended to sign. \n \nLytvyn called the parliament's decision "an act of consolidation and reconciliation." \n \nBefore the decision was adopted, President Kuchma addressed the deputies, noting that in Ukraine "crisis phenomena have arisen more than once, but there has always been enough will and reason to find the single correct decision, which was supported first by this hall and then confirmed by society." \n\n"We have repeatedly heard the words that there should be no winners and losers, but Ukraine won. I want to add that it is necessary that there also be no humiliated," he noted. \n\n"Many remember how the Constitution was adopted. On some issues, it seemed that we would never find a constitutional majority; we voted article by article on the issue of language, the coat of arms, the flag. And the parliament was a little different then, but the Constitution was adopted," Kuchma noted, expressing hope that it would be the same this time. \n\n"I came then with such an understanding, and today as well. This decision is needed by Ukraine," he emphasized. \n\n*** \n\nLaw 4180 (amending the Constitution) provides for a transition from a presidential-parliamentary to a parliamentary-presidential form of government, the formation of a government by a coalition of parliamentary factions, and an extension of the parliament's term of office to 5 years. \n\nThe document expands the powers of the Verkhovna Rada, which will receive the right to appoint the prime minister, ministers of defense and foreign affairs on the president's submission, as well as, on the prime minister's submission, other members of the government. \n\nThe constitutional amendments enter into force on September 1, 2005. \n\n*** \n\nAmendments to the election law are intended to reduce the level of possible falsifications and abuses during the upcoming election campaign. \n\n*** \nAmendments to the election law are intended to reduce the level of possible falsifications and abuses during the upcoming election campaign. \n\nIn particular, this law addresses a new principle for forming precinct election commissions. The number of absentee certificates is also reduced to 0.5% (it was 4% of the number of voters). \n\nUpon receiving an absentee certificate, a corresponding mark will be placed in the voter's passport or other identity document, which must be canceled at the precinct when he votes under such a certificate. \n\nIn addition, voting at home is permitted only to group 1 disabled persons unable to move independently, upon the presence of a corresponding application and a document confirming disability. \n\nUkrainska Pravda, Interfax-Ukraine