Agro Perspectiva

Ukrainian President calls for acceleration of reforms

03.02.2015 10:09 "Agro Perspectiva" (Kyiv) — While speaking at the meeting of the National Council of Reforms yesterday, the Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko called for the acceleration of reforms, particularly judicial and anti-corruption ones, President Petro Poroshenko Press Office reports. «We have to be more decisive. We have lost some precious time to create political conditions necessary for the beginning of reforms,» the President said adding that «the present situation demonstrates that we have no right to retreat, slowdown the pace of reforms and avoid the demonstration of resolute and steady progress». As to the report, the Head of State also noted that reforms had begun. «One must stop wearing sackcloth and ashes because of the alleged lack of reforms,» the President emphasized. As to Poroshenko, «changes should strengthen the state and make the struggle against the aggressor more efficient not only in the military context. We must prove and demonstrate to the whole world that new Ukrainian authorities and society can offer an absolutely different model of Ukraine’s development». Speaking of the need for the acceleration of judicial reform, the President noted: «The only branch, which doesn’t allow speaking of full reboot of the government is judicial branch. So far, it stands as a rock and breaks the most powerful reformist waves». As to the report, Poroshenko also admitted that one must complete the discussion and harmonization of the draft laws on judicial reform. «We must adopt the approved draft law as soon as possible. It will let us efficiently change the judicial power,» Petro Poroshenko said. As to the President, the influence of other power branches on the courts must be severely reduced. At the same time, Petro Poroshenko has noted that he was not ready to transform the role of the President into an outside observer of the courts. «Moreover, claims for the situation in the courts are being addressed to the President by inertia. If we let the corrupt judicial corps stew in its own juice, neither we nor our children will see the changes in the judicial system! The courts haven’t begun lustration yet,» the President said. Reportedly, while addressing the Chairman of Verkhovna Rada Volodymyr Groysman, the President expressed hope that the Parliament would adopt the draft amendments to the Constitution in the first reading on Thursday, which provide for the abolition of the parliamentary immunity and limit the immunity of judges. «It is also a part of the judicial reform,» he said.