Does Cabinet Favor Veto of Election Law?

Head of the Presidential Administration Volodymyr Lytvyn says the law passed on elections to Verkhovna Rada on the basis of proportional representation elections runs counter to the Constitution and contains “16 violations of Constitutional articles.” In his opinion, parliament passed this law as “a component of the processes now underway in Ukraine.” His main argument against the adoption of this law at present is that political parties are weak, Interfax-Ukraine reports.

He simultaneously believes that an election on the basis of proportional representation could “clearly divide political parties on a regional basis,” which he thinks can lead to “the regionalization and disintegration of Ukraine under conditions of possible political instability.”

In its turn, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine suggests that President Leonid Kuchma exercise his right to veto the law on proportional representation in parliamentary elections. As Mr. Lytvyn disclosed, First Vice Premier Yuri Yekhanurov expressed this opinion of the government to the President on February 15. Mr. Lytvyn said the cabinet would soon submit an official legislative initiative to the president.