Yushchenko Reverses Tymoshenko Removal of SPFU Chiefs
On February 6, 2008, Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and her Cabinet of Ministers issued several decrees (#201-r, 203-4, 204-r and 208-r) dismissing State Property Fund of Ukraine (SPFU) head Valentyna Semeniuk and several of her deputy chiefs. Andriy Portnov has been temporarily appointed SPFU chief, and several deputy chiefs were also appointed. These assignments are considered temporary until the Verkhovna Rada meets to consider candidacy for each post.
Tymoshenko's government is investigating SPFU to determine if the Fund violated Constitutional law, and if Semeniuk was involved in corruption. Along with Semeniuk, the decree also removed deputy chiefs Victor Petrov, Anatoliy Hrynenko and Oleksander Potymkov from office.
President Viktor Yushchenko followed the government's announcement by issuing his own decree (#106/2008) on February 7, suspending the Cabinet of Ministers decrees. Yushchenko claims that the dismissals were inappropriate and violated Constitutional law. According to the Law "On State Property Privatization" and the Temporary Provision on the SPFU, the institution is defined as a state agency, carrying out state policy in the realm of state property privitization. According to Ukraine's Constitution, the government does not have the authority to appoint and dismiss chiefs of central executive power agencies. In fact, such appointments and dismissals must be approved by Parliament. Yushchenko has told Semeniuk to remain in office and follow the existing legislation.
Tymoshenko is determined to rid the government of corruption and speed up privatization, but seems to be overzealous and willing to sidestep existing laws to get the job done. Perhaps, since the opposition Party of Regions has blockaded the Verkhovna Rada, thus preventing the body from operating, Tymoshenko was overanxious and decided not to wait until Parliament reconvenes.
While I am happy to see Tymoshenko's government off to an promising start, I cannot condone these dismissals. It may be necessary to temporarily remove these officials from office during the investigation, however there is a right way and a wrong way to handle the situation..Unfortunately, it seems that Tymoshenko chose the incorrect approach. She needs to slow down a little bit and ensure that her government is operating in accordance with existing laws, otherwise they are no better than their corrupt predecessors.
Valentyna Semeniuk
Tymoshenko's government is investigating SPFU to determine if the Fund violated Constitutional law, and if Semeniuk was involved in corruption. Along with Semeniuk, the decree also removed deputy chiefs Victor Petrov, Anatoliy Hrynenko and Oleksander Potymkov from office.
President Viktor Yushchenko followed the government's announcement by issuing his own decree (#106/2008) on February 7, suspending the Cabinet of Ministers decrees. Yushchenko claims that the dismissals were inappropriate and violated Constitutional law. According to the Law "On State Property Privatization" and the Temporary Provision on the SPFU, the institution is defined as a state agency, carrying out state policy in the realm of state property privitization. According to Ukraine's Constitution, the government does not have the authority to appoint and dismiss chiefs of central executive power agencies. In fact, such appointments and dismissals must be approved by Parliament. Yushchenko has told Semeniuk to remain in office and follow the existing legislation.
Tymoshenko is determined to rid the government of corruption and speed up privatization, but seems to be overzealous and willing to sidestep existing laws to get the job done. Perhaps, since the opposition Party of Regions has blockaded the Verkhovna Rada, thus preventing the body from operating, Tymoshenko was overanxious and decided not to wait until Parliament reconvenes.
While I am happy to see Tymoshenko's government off to an promising start, I cannot condone these dismissals. It may be necessary to temporarily remove these officials from office during the investigation, however there is a right way and a wrong way to handle the situation..Unfortunately, it seems that Tymoshenko chose the incorrect approach. She needs to slow down a little bit and ensure that her government is operating in accordance with existing laws, otherwise they are no better than their corrupt predecessors.
0 TrackBacks
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: Yushchenko Reverses Tymoshenko Removal of SPFU Chiefs.
TrackBack URL for this entry: http://www.chernobylee.com/mt/mt-tb.fcgi/78
Leave a comment