Oleksandr Yefremov, the leader of the pro-presidential Party of Regions in parliament, took an uncompromising stance with opposition leaders in parliament today. In doing so, Yefremov seemingly dismissed reports that President Viktor Yanukovych may call early presidential and parliamentary elections as a way out of Ukraine's political crisis.
Meanwhile, Andriy Portnov, the deputy head of the presidential administration, today dismissed the chances of reverting to a 2004 constitution that lessened presidential powers.
After arguing for 90 minutes this morning, in which it became clear that no political compromise is imminent, the Verkhovna Rada adjourned its session at 11:30 a.m. They reconvened at 4 p.m. today, adjourning within an hour, without taking any action.
Party of Regions lawmaker Hanna Herman told reporters during the break that there would be no movement in government or in talks regarding the constitution until Yanukovych’s Feb. 7 visit to Russia.
Yefremov said that Yanukovych has already compromised by last week accepting the resignation of Prime Minister Mykola Azarov, agreeing to repeal anti-free speech and anti-protest laws and endorsing a conditional amnesty law for arrested and detained protesters.
“Ukraine is not a sovereign and independent state now. We can’t find any solution to the crisis we have. The Verkhovna Rada has turned into a fight club. And when politics become silent – the street reacts,” Yefremov said, pointing to the anti-government EuroMaidan protests that have spread over Ukraine since their start on Nov. 21.
“Do you think that seizing governmental building is your way to Europe? Or this is what helps you to come to power?” Yefremov asked fellow members of parliament. “We’ll deter the aggressive plans of the provocateurs. The president already agreed to compromise and that’s the way out of the crisis. I propose that all forget the insults and find a way out of this situation through joint efforts.”
Another Party of Regions member, Yuriy Miroshnychenko, also on Feb. 4 backed off his televised remarks on Feb. 3 that Yanukovych is considering early presidential and parliamentary elections as a way out of the nation’s protracted political crisis.
The question of holding early parliamentary elections in Ukraine is currently not on the agenda, the president’s representative in parliament, Miroshnychenko, told Interfax-Ukraine news service.
“This issue is currently irrelevant. We have passed a law (on amnesty) and, thank God, we have moved away (from the possibility of holding early presidential and parliamentary elections),” he said. He told Interfax-Ukraine: “Yes, such a scenario (of early elections) existed. It existed when we were preparing to consider the bills.”
Meanwhile, Portnov, the deputy head of the presidential administration, said that Ukraine’s opposition parties have no chance of reverting Ukraine’s constitution to the 2004 version that divided powers between the president and parliament. Portnov told the journal Law and Business on Feb. 4: “It is obvious that it is a futile attempt that has no legal perspectives,” Portnov said. “The 2004 constitution cannot meet the needs of society.”
Vitali Klitschko, the opposition leader of the UDAR (PUNCH) party, said parliament should act in order to stop dictatorship. He called for early elections to city councils.
“The government is responsible for the crisis, now we need to renew the constitution. We should set the date for early elections in Kyiv and city councils in every oblast. Only this can help to restore the truth to the politicians, as people don’t believe neither in politicians, neither in parliament,” Klitschko said.
Volodymyr Lytvyn, an independent Ukrainian lawmaker and former speaker of the Verkhovna Rada, sees two scenarios.
“The compromise is the best way out of the crisis. However, here in Verkhovna Rada we need to think of a dialog first, not only about ambitions. The second scenario – is confrontation which follows to civil war,” Lytvyn said. “There’re not only radicals or extremists protesting on the streets now. This is the reaction of Ukrainian society.”
Lytvyn also warned against dissolving parliament. “I need to stress on the meaningful role of the parliament now. Thank God, the Verkhovna Rada starts working after almost two months of silence. So stop talking about the dissolving of the parliament. We need to stop this “winter of frustration and concentrate on Ukraine’s economics,” Lytvyn said.
Oleh Tiahnybok, the leader of the opposition Svoboda Party, said that Ukraine risks civil war without a political settlement.
“The background for our territorial integrity should not be only cosmetic changes,” Tiahnybok said. “It should not be only returning to the Constitution of 2004. We shoud be taking steps to avoid political crisis. It’s not a confrontation between east and west, it’s the protest of a nation. The authorities are not listening to the people. We can’t count on the International Monetary Fund as it could help only to delay default that Ukraine is on the brink of.”
Tiahnybok also warned: “We are on the brink of losing the national sovereignity. We have to stop the fifth column which could start a war in civil society. That’s why parliament should rehabilitate. Passivity of the parliament can lead to bloodshed on the streets. Let’s adopt amendents to the constitution, the law on decriminalization, and demand reports from the interior minister and prosecutor general on the investigation into murders and demand an (international) Hague Tribunal.”
Serhiy Sobolev, a member of the opposition Batkivshchyna Party of imprisoned ex-Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko said that Yanukovych hasn’t compromised enough to end the national protests.
“Let’s analyze what has changed as more than 70 days have passed already. Nothing. Yanukovych still wants to keep the power. And the first victims are on Yanukovych’s head, as well as on (Interior Minister Vitaliy) Zakharchenko’s. The key issue right now is to stop the bloodshed. And the Batkivshchyna faction is offering a single variant for solving the crisis – returning to the constitution (of 2004). Then the amnesty (law) should be adopted, but the one that will involve investigations. And the parliament should immediately start working on a distinct economic strategy. Also authorize government to sign an association and free trade agreement with the European Union. Do that and this will be the way out.”
Petro Symonenko, leader of the Communist Party that votes with the president’s ruling party on most issues, also warned of coming civil war.
“Extremism and radicalism have gained the upper hand. The threat of civil war is around the corner. Those сalls for European integration have transformed into nationalistic waste,” Symonenko said. “Those calls to reload the power are just about relocation of oligarchs. You have already called for change of power but only increased your wealth instead. Ukraine could lose independence. We should carry out constitutional reform and declare off the position of the president. The powers of the president should include only giving rewards and certificates.”
This account was written by Kyiv Post chief editor Brian Bonner based on the reporting of editor Christopher J. Miller and staff writers Anastasia Forina and Olena Goncharova.
