Verkhovna Rada Increases the Powers of the President

The Verkhovna Rada passed the first reading of a bill on changes to the Law on State Service, which gives the President control over local authorities. A total of 227 MPs, including those from Volia Narodu and Opposition Bloc factions that are associated with the ousted president Yanukovych, voted for the bill.

‘Alternative bill 4370-1’ says that the Cabinet of Ministers is to propose candidates for oblast governors to the President after receiving recommendations from the commission affiliated not with the Cabinet, but with the Presidential Administration. It also allows governors to be party members and run during elections.

The Verkhovna Rada did not pass the original 4370 bill submitted by Alyona Shkrum of Batkivshchyna, which did not include these regulations. Shkrum says that the alternative bill raises serious concerns about the usurpation of power by the President.

Source: Ukrayinska Pravda