Agreement Pending

Last Thursday’s election of the parliamentary vice-speaker was declared invalid because only 255 MPs voted, while the rules require at least 300 secret ballots.

Although this election had been adjourned more than once, parliamentary factions and groups failed to come to an agreement (let’s put it bluntly: strike a deal). The attempt to fill the vacancy after Oleksandr Zinchenko’s appointment as State Secretary turned into a new “war dance.” This was evident even before the vote, when it was reported that the two largest factions, Our Ukraine and Regions of Ukraine, were going to stay out. The former explained their refusal to vote by their desire “to continue consultations about the candidates for this office,” while the latter demanded that all MPs who also hold executive posts should vacate their seats.

Also on the agenda was the election of the heads of three parliamentary committees (freedom of speech; public development and local government; and European integration) whose previous chairmen — Mykola Tomenko, Anatoly Matviyenko, and Borys Tarasiuk, respectively — voluntarily waived their mandates after assuming their government posts. It was decided to defer this issue until the departure of some top officials who are still clinging to their parliamentary seats, despite accusations that they violated the law (Petro Poroshenko, Stanislav Nikolayenko, Mykola Polishchuk, et al.). Incidentally, the case of these “dual jobholders” is being heard in a court.

Parliamentary Speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn declared that the vice-speaker should be voted into office after “more serious and profound” agreements are reached. It is everyone’s guess what this euphemism means. What is clear is that the bargaining — pardon me, consultations and search for a compromise — is still going on.