Third Ukrainian President Viktor Yuschenko (2005-2010), the leader of the Our Ukraine Party, has called on the parliament, the head of state and the Constitutional Court not to restore authoritarianism in Ukraine.
"Don’t take this step. Don’t form the authorities in an illegal way," he said at a briefing after a party congress in Kyiv on Friday.
Yuschenko said he had no doubt that the Constitutional Court would take a decision cancelling the political reform of 2004.
"There is no doubt that a respective decision by the Constitutional Court has been prepared," he said.
Yuschenko described such actions as unconstitutional and said that the cancellation of the political reform would be a return to authoritarianism.
As reported, on July 14, 2010, the Constitutional Court received a motion from 252 MPs regarding the constitutionality of law No. 2222-IV of December 8, 2004 amending the Constitution of Ukraine.
The law of December 8, 2004 foresees a switch from a presidential-parliamentary to parliamentary-presidential form of government, the government’s formation by a coalition of parliamentary factions, and the extension of the parliament’s term to five years.
The law expanded the powers of the Verkhovna Rada, which gained the right to appoint the prime minister, the defense and foreign ministers under a motion from the president, as well as other government members under a motion from the prime minister.
On September 23, 2010, the Constitutional Court started considering the case on the 2004 political reform.
