Pliushch wants to correct Kuchma’s mistake

As UNIAN reported earlier, Our Ukraine – People’s Self-Defense faction lawmaker Ivan Pliushch has not signed the agreement on creating the democratic coalition, as he remains an adherent of a “broad coalition”.

“You know, in 2002, when I balloted on a majoritary district, I was asked which political force I represented. I said – I’m for a united Ukraine”, I.Pliushch stressed.

I.Pliushch recalled the words of ex-President Leonid Kuchma, that the biggest mistake of his tenure on the post of President was that in 2002 he did not unite “Our Ukraine” with “For United Ukraine” Bloc.

According to I.Pliushch, during the time of his working in the parliament, he became confident that “it is very difficult, and often unproductive, to build the country with a half. For the parliament to be able to work, the majority must include 300 lawmakers”.

I.Pliuschhe  stressed there was time when this norm was recorded in the Verkhovna Rada regulations, though later it was eliminated.

He agrees it is difficult to create a coalition of 300 lawmakers, but, namely 300 votes are necessary to finish the politicial reform and continue reforming Ukraine.

According to I.Pliushch, without this constitutional coalition, lawmakers will have all the time to turn to the population through referendums. “I do not consider it the best variant”, he stressed.

As UNIAN reported earlier, the democratic coalition, including 227 lawmakers, has been created officially.

According to an UNIAN correspondent, the respective decision was adopted at the today’s joint session of OU-PSD and BYuT factions.

According to BYuT leader Oleksander Turchynov, 156 lawmakers of BYuT and 71 lawmakers of OU-PSD signed the coalition agreement.

“This allows us to state that, in line with the Constitution, the democratic coalition has been formed”, he said.

The lawmakers unanimously supported the creation of the democratic coalition, after which BYuT leader Yulia Tymoshenko and OU-PSD leader Viacheslav Kyrylenko officially signed the coalition.

At present they plan to solve the issue of creating the coalition’s council, and the issues of electing the Prime Minister of Ukraine and the Verkhovna Rada Speaker.