In connection to the blocked rostrum by the opposition, the Party of Regions and the CPU have left the Verkhovna Rada on Hrushevskoho Street. The pro-power majority decided to conduct their meeting in an assembly hall of parliamentary committees on Bankova st. Journalists have already named the situation as putsch. 

As of today, 88 MPs, have published lists of their assistant-consultants, and 16 have refused to provide such information. All the other haven't provided any feedback at all.

Four of five parliamentary factions have promulgated their financial reports for 2012. The most financially capable parliamentary party in Ukraine is the Party of Regions, and the least – All-Ukrainian Union Svoboda. The UDAR hasn't published the financial report yet, but its leader have informed OPORA that it is to be published in middle April.

Ukrainian parliamentary system constantly degrades. Lack of citizens' trust and domination of executive branch of power have demolished foundations of representative democracy. The social legitimacy of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine is formed not only through elections, but also through MPs' activities during cadence, their influence on political processes and existence of real tools for parliamentary powers implementation. We give impartial assessment of the situation, and see inevita...

The Verkhovna Rada wasn't very active during its first 100 days. Out of 20 days of plenary sittings, the parliament worked only 10, and was blocked during another 10 days (not including weekends). MPs have spent 19 days on activities in committees, and 8 days on activities in their districts. The MPs have had 53 days off. Therefore, MPs didn't work for more than half of 100 days.

As a representative body, the parliament plays key role in the functioning of democracy. However, the presence of elected body doesn't secure the existence of democratic system in the country. The democracy requires at least two conditions for its functioning. First – is holding of free and fair Parliamentary elections. Second – is adherence to democratic principles and standards in parliamentary activities.

Civil Network OPORA and the European Partnership for Democracy (Brussels) had the pleasure to invite, on the 20th of March in Kyiv, independent experts, diplomats and authorities to a discussion on EU-Ukraine relations. The main aim of the conference titled "EU-Ukraine: a chance for a common future" was to analyze the prospects for signing the Association Agreement at the Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius later this year, taking into consideration the only vague progresses made by Ukraine...

Blocking of the parliament, minor compromises, calls to reelect the parliament and the President – are only symptoms of diseased legislative branch. Verkhovna Rada should come back to the working pace which would secure MPs implementing their duties and protecting parliamentary influence. It's a time to seriously discuss basic principles of Ukrainian parliamentarism.