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Ukraine's president, opposition agree constitution should be revised

The sides agreed to jointly participate in a constitutional reform and cooperate with European institutions in the work

KIEV, January 28. /ITAR-TASS/. Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich and opposition leaders discussed joint participation in a constitutional reform, Justice Minister Yelena Lukash said on Monday after the meeting between the president, members of the working group for political crisis settlement and opposition leaders, which lasted more than four hours.

First deputy chief of the presidential administration staff Andrei Portnov, Justice Minister Lukash, UDAR party leader Vitaly Klichko, leader of Batkivshchyna's parliament members Arseny Yatsenyuk and Freedom party leader Oleg Tyagnibok participated in the meeting, which took place in the presidential administration building.

The sides came to the conclusion that the laws they discussed were not perfect and the text of the constriction needed improvement. They agreed to jointly participate in a constitutional reform and cooperate with European institutions in the work.

In 2004, there was a reform that resulted in the transformation of Ukraine's political system from presidential-parliamentary into parliamentary-presidential. However, in October 2010, the country returned to the constitution adopted in 1996.The Constitutional Court ruled that the political reform was carried out with numerous violations. After the 2004 constitutional reform was revoked, a number of powers were not only returned to the president, but they were also expanded.

Thus, the president has the right to independently decide on a candidacy to be appointed as prime minister, propose the candidacy to the parliament for its consideration and dismiss the prime minister. Earlier, a premier was chosen by Supreme Rada deputies. The president may appoint and dismiss any cabinet members, the prosecutor-general and the chief of the Ukrainian Security Service. Before, only defense ministers and foreign ministers were appointed on his initiative. The president also independently appoints heads of the Property Fund and the Antimonopoly Committee and has the right to create, reorganize or abolish any body of executive power.