Ukraine, “New Constitution and new elections needed,” says the European Parliament

After their mission in Kiev, a MEPs delegation pictures a “situation of trampled fundamental rights” and warns Russia “we say no to dictatorial pressures”

From our correspondent in Strasbourg Letizia Pascale

First, reinstating the 2004 Constitution, getting rid of the 2010 one which hadn’t been approved by the Parliament of Ukraine. Then, new elections, limiting irregularities and abuses: the only way to avoid “a total farce” in Ukraine. This is the road map conceived by the European Parliament in order to reinstate the rule of law in Kiev, after the political crisis exploded for the failure by PresidentYanukovich to sign a free trade agreement with the EU.

In order to get a clear picture of the situation, a delegation of 12 MEPs, led by the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Elmar Brok (EPP), was in Ukraine from 28 to 30 January, had meetings with opposition leaders, members of the Rada, government representatives and with representatives of civil society. MEPs returned with a shared vision, which they explained in Strasbourg. First, the current government should be replaced by a proper one “or the situation of abuse will be continued.”

Yet, restoring normality needs a review of the Constitution in force, according to MEPs. The current one results from the 2010 amendments, coinciding with Yanukovich’ rise to power, made to the 2004 Constitution – which, by the way, limited President’s powers. The opposition will present a bill for reinstating the 2004 Constitution at the RADA, the Parliament of Ukraine.

New elections are needed too, said Brok, maybe during next fall. “Notwithstanding the short time, it could happen,” he added. The matter is, they need to be free from irregularities. “Last year the opposition parties got half of the votes, and just one third of the seats, due to abuses,” underlined Brok. This situation must be resolved, he asked the Parliament, even with an OSCE intervention.

Respect of fundamental rights in Ukraine is unexisting – an “unacceptable” situation, highlights the chairman. “People are brutally beaten and kidnapped. Three hundred persons were unfairly arrested, thirty have ‘disappeared’ and when released, prisoners show clear marks of brutalities. Police act brutally, and there is absolutely no respect for fundamental rights.”

Moscow has its own responsibilities too, underlined the European Parliament. “The ‘blackmail system’ is repeated every two months by Russia, ready to give money,” Brok accused. “President Putin,” he added, “said they will respect their commitments only when they know who the next Prime Minister is: a classic example of their will to repeat their power, in the most ruthless way.” According to Brok, “the Kremlin should accept Ukrainian people’s will,” considering that “they shouldn’t be imposed a dictatorial pressure” and that “such a heavy political pressure could prove extremely expensive even for Russia in the long term.”

“Our door remains open,” said Brok, but the European Union follows an enlargement policy “based on stabilisation” hence everything will depend on the situation of Ukraine.