President Yushchenko's Address to the Nation - Kerk in Actie

President Yushchenko's Address to the Nation
02.04.2007 21:36 ___ Official Document
Viktor Yushchenko has dissolved parliament and called new elections. In a televised address to
the nation, he said:
Dear fellow citizens,
I have signed a decree to dissolve the Verkhovna Rada of the fifth convocation today.
I made this decision in accordance with Ukraine’s constitution and my obligations as President of
Ukraine. My actions are dictated by the crucial necessity to save the country, its sovereignty and
territorial integrity, and ensure the adherence to the constitution and the observance of civil rights
and freedoms. I would like to say again that this is not only my right but also my obligation.
The Verkhovna Rada is deliberately escalating the political crisis, which poses a threat to our
country and nation. There are three dangerous tendencies in it.
The first one is the unconstitutional process to form and expand the parliamentary coalition.
Under the constitution, the coalition can be formed by deputy factions and not by individual or
group members. Any other way is a revision of the will of the nation and the most cynical
challenge for each of us.
The second tendency is the practice to pass illegitimate and unconstitutional laws. The most
recent example is the Law on the Cabinet of Ministers, which systemically violates the
constitution of Ukraine and is an attack on Ukraine’s constitutional order.

The third tendency is their inability to fulfill obligations and fraudulent policy of intrigues and
betrayals disguised as national unity slogans.
In the past year, the Verkhovna Rada has not demonstrated what the nation expected from
it. The parliamentary coalition does not even conceal its major goal to usurp power and
preserve its rule.
Society is tired of seeing this power struggle and how its daily needs are ignored.
I was calling on parliamentary forces to start constructive dialogue for months. My proposals were
ignored even today.
Violations of the Constitution of Ukraine, among them unconstitutional coalition formation, created
obvious legal and political reasons to dissolve parliament.
A new election is the best way out. It became inevitable. Regular and early elections are a
legitimate democratic instrument belonging to the people of Ukraine to control their government.
There will be no shocks and confrontations. The situation in the country is under control and will
be stable. The presidential decree to disband parliament is obligatory.