Iryna Gerashchenko on the farce in the Verkhovna Rada: closedness, corruption and silent reports
Ukrainians closely monitor the activities of the Verkhovna Rada, because it is there that key decisions are made that affect everyone’s life. However, certain actions of the parliament cause indignation, doubts and lively discussions. Openness, democracy, and the quality of decisions are increasingly questioned, especially when it comes to closed discussions, “quick” reports of ministers, or dubious draft laws. People’s deputy Iryna Gerashchenko in her sharp comments clearly demonstrated how the parliament of the current convocation works.
“Empty hall and reports without questions”
“The session begins. The hall is full”, – Gerashchenko remarks sarcastically, showing a photo of an empty session hall.
According to the people’s deputy, although the reports of important ministers are on the agenda, the discussions are conducted in a format that she calls “very strange”. Minister of Social Policy Zholnovich speaks for five minutes about supporting children in difficult life circumstances and victims of war. But it is not allowed to ask her any questions.
Gerashchenko notes that they listened to the Minister of Strategic Industries Smetanin just as quickly. He confirmed the cases of delivery of a batch of 120 mm, but spoke about their withdrawal and replacement of these mines with those that have passed successful tests. At the same time, the minister assured that more than 30,000 new mines have already been delivered.
According to Iryna Gerashchenko, Minister of Energy Galushchenko, speaking about corruption scandals in the industry, recognized “individual facts of corruption of an individual nature”, but no discussion on this matter took place.
“But again, it’s a very strange format – a five-minute speech without the right to ask questions.” — stresses Gerashchenko, hinting at the formality of such reports.
“27 billion for outdated Soviet reactors”
The People’s Deputy also draws attention to another important problem — dubious draft laws that are being adopted at an accelerated pace. It is about an amendment to draft law No. 11392 on the allocation of 27 billion hryvnias for the purchase of old Soviet reactors in Bulgaria. According to her, the meeting of the energy committee takes place without proper transparency, and they even managed to change the name of the draft law.
“The same eggs, only in profile. And not for 17, but for 27 billion for the state…
The meeting of the energy committee is currently underway, where the servants want to insert an amendment into draft law #11392 on the allocation of 27 billion for the purchase of obsolete Soviet reactors in Bulgaria. And accept it today. Even the bill was renamed. We will knock down” – wrote Gerashchenko on Facebook.
“Openness of committee work — farce or reform?”
At the same time, Gerashchenko criticized the return of the right to journalists and experts to attend meetings of Verkhovna Rada committees. “This is not a reform, but a norm!” – she notes, adding that at one time it was precisely this convocation of the parliament that introduced censorship, canceled broadcasts and reduced the activities of deputies to pressing the “green button”. Instead, now the same deputies are celebrating the “achievement” as a great victory.
The deputy is particularly outraged that 2 billion hryvnias from the state budget are spent every year on the running of the “Edyni Novyni” marathon, and opposition representatives are not allowed on the air.
“Every year, 2 billion UAH are allocated for the marathon from the state budget of servants and OPZZ (unfortunately, part of the Voice also votes for it).
The opposition was removed from there a long time ago, representatives of European Solidarity were never given a word there. However, there from morning to evening are the advisers of the OP and their colleagues on the breeding ground of the population – fortune tellers, psychics and other magicians. All this – from the taxes of ordinary Ukrainians!”, – said the People’s Deputy.
“Parliamentary realities — through the prism of irony”
Iryna Gerashchenko summarizes: the current convocation of the parliament demonstrates authoritarian tendencies, limits transparency and the rights of deputies.
“Soon, we may have to be happy that deputies are still allowed to enter the Verkhovna Rada without special permission.” she notes ironically.
The sarcastic tone of Gerashchenko’s comments only emphasizes the seriousness of the problems in the work of the Verkhovna Rada. Closed-mindedness, accelerated decisions without proper discussion and questionable use of budget funds create real problems for Ukrainian society.
