On July 28 at a press conference devoted to summing up the work of Verkhovna Rada's first session Oleksandr Tkachenko stated that the question of presidential sequestering had been discussed in the Budget Commission and the latter had agreed to such a solution.
True, it remains to be understood why the question of altering this year's budget was not discussed on the floor of Parliament as provided for by law. The Speaker's statement, made after the Deputies had left town, created the impression that if this was not a plot, then there was at least an exceedingly serious agreement with the legislative branch. This step by Tkachenko is quite risky. Despite the fact that such budget cuts will have no practical effect and the issue is only how real and formal responsibilities are carried out, one doubts that the Deputies will forgive the Speaker so exceeding his powers. If nothing happens, then clearly there were others besides Tkachenko involved in the plot.
Photo by Leonid BAKKA, The Day:
Since the Cabinet make a mistake in this year's budget, let them fix it, declared Speaker Oleksandr Tkachenko, and Deputy Premier Serhiy Tyhypko is convinced that the IMF mission is de facto in agreement that the President can decree corrections to the 1998 state budget







