Referendum in Ukraine can only be scheduled by parliament - Central Elections Commission

16:14, 30.04.2014 1 min read

From an organizational viewpoint, a referendum in Ukraine can be conducted on June 15, but only after the parliament passes a decree in accordance with the Constitution, Andriy Mahera, deputy chairman of the Central Elections Commission, said.

Mahera told a press conference on Wednesday that, according to the Constitution, a referendum can be initiated or scheduled by the president of Ukraine, but not the acting president of Ukraine. A referendum on the issue of the territory of Ukraine can also be scheduled by the parliament.

Serhiy Sobolev, acting head of the parliamentary faction Batkivschyna, said on April 29 that the Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council had recommended the preparation of a new law on referendums. He said the law on referendums can be prepared within ten days and can be submitted to the parliament in the next plenary week.