Agro Perspectiva

Rada started consideration of presidential amendments to Constitution on decentralization of power

03.07.2014 16:12 "Agro Perspectiva" (Kyiv) — On July 3, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine supported the procedure of consideration of the presidential amendments to the Constitution on decentralization of power, President Petro Poroshenko Press Office reports. As to the report, 277 deputies voted for the inclusion of draft law ¹ 418à «On amendments to the Constitution of Ukraine (on the authority of state and local government)» to the agenda of the Parliament. Amendments to the Constitution on decentralization of power were one of the key items of the election program of Petro Poroshenko and one of the key phases of the peace plan of the President on the settlement of the situation in the Donbas. It is particularly provided for the establishment of the institute of local representatives of the President instead of RSA and DSA Heads. «Amendments to the Constitution that are submitted for your consideration today are a much broader topic than the state structure, the form of government or the balance between the branches of power. It is an answer to the question whether united and indivisible Ukraine will exist or not. It is the issue of war and peace that occurred in the history of Ukraine for the first time. And it is the main part of my peace plan,» the Head of State noted in the course of presenting his project in the Verkhovna Rada. He emphasized that the Constitutional reform is one of urgent issues that cannot be postponed by the government officials. The President stressed that it was the first time when the main thing in the amendments to the Constitution was a broad delegation of powers to communities, districts and regions. «The majority of changes concern namely the decentralization of power, the strengthening of constitutional-legal status of the local government and its financial opportunities,» he said. «Decentralization suggested by us has been verified with the European experience. It is an antidote against federalization. Ukraine was, is and will be a unitary state,» the Head of State added. Among the main changes, according to Petro Poroshenko, is the principle of government formation - from below, accumulation of powers at the basic level of local communities, election of local heads, determination concerning the use of languages etc. At the same time he emphasized that Ukrainian language remains the only official language. «We have a firm and convincing majority in favor of a single state language, but in a democratic and European society one cannot neglect the rights of minorities. That’s why village, town, city, district and regional councils will have a right to grant special status for Russian and other languages within their territories and competence,» the President noted. He called the given decision a reasonable compromise that «will make Ukraine stronger, nation - more cohesive and eliminate language speculations». The Head of State expressed gratitude to the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, the Prime Minister, the Government, the people’s deputies and everyone involved in the elaboration of amendments to the Basic Law. He noted that the project gained support of all the participants of the process. «I am convinced that the given Constitution brings us closer to Europe. In this context, the support of the Venice Commission is extremely important for me. We spoke of the amendments to the Constitution and decentralization and had an absolute support to the given project,» he said. Petro Poroshenko also expressed belief that adoption and implementation of amendments to the Constitution would become a reliable measure on the settlement of crisis in the Donbas and bring the government closer to people all over the country. «First of all, with instruments of the peace plan, we must fight for hearts of those who live in the Donbas. It will become our victory. After these challenges, we will become stronger and more united,» the President concluded.