“There were two items on the coordination board’s agenda. One was about redistributing portfolios in Verkhovna Rada committees and drawing up the required documents, the other focused on the participation of the parliamentary majority in the formation of the government. The meeting discussed two basic documents: the agreement on the parliamentary majority’s participation in forming the government on constitutional principles and the political agreement between this parliamentary majority and the coalition government. The basic agreement needs updating with due account of task force proposals.”
“How many applications for majority membership have been filed up to now?”
“It is still too early to make assumptions or predictions over the likely numerical strength of the majority formed. We plan to draw up the final list by Tuesday, which will be registered at the VR secretariat.”
“Now about the items debated upon at the meeting. In what way are the committees going to be redistributed?”
“This has not yet been settled. It is now planned to give the minority three committees (including the Committee on the Freedom of Speech and Information and the Committee on the Legal Control of Law Enforcement). All the other committees should be taken over by the majority. I think this stage will see negotiations with due account of additional proposals.”
“Why do you use the term, minority? Are you negotiating with Our Ukraine about its place in the majority?”
“We use the term minority, not opposition, because the opposition does not exist as such in terms of organization. Now for the second half of your question. All the negotiations are over. We have taken a clear and understandable position. And there is no need to hold more talks about joining the majority. All the factions and groups can only join the parliamentary majority if they accept the foundation documents drawn up by this majority. In other words, if they support the basic documents, they can join. If not, an alternative scheme comes into play. (For instance, an alternative document is being worked out by the parliamentary majority and, loosely, Our Ukraine, which clearly sets out the subject matter of cooperation.) It is only on this basis that we can discuss any versions of membership or any other documents on cooperation.”
“Have you prepared any proposals about candidatures for ministerial posts and the Prime Minister?”
“We have not yet prepared these kind of proposals because it is necessary to update the matrix documents, i.e., the two agreements. Only after they are updated and adopted can we talk about personalities.”
