Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko at a meeting with heads of parliamentary factions and deputy groups in the parliament backed a decision to restore parliamentarians' control over the Prosecutor General's Office (PGO).
“I’ve decided to restore parliament’s control over the Prosecutor General’s Office and return the right of the Verkhovna Rada to express distrust, which entails the resignation of the Prosecutor General,” the press service of the Ukrainian president reported on January 27, citing Poroshenko.
Draft constitutional amendments, restoring the parliamentary control over the Prosecutor General’s Office, had been submitted to the parliament the day before.
The head of state added that “the given draft law includes provisions on the liquidation of judicial immunity and increased responsibility for unjust court decisions,” as well as the automatic resignation of judges if they fail to pass the re-credentialing.
The president said that the draft constitutional amendments had been prepared for a long time and thoroughly – its discussion was deep in content and wide in the range of experts, politicians, public figures and mass media.
The president noted that the Venice Commission had approved the draft amendments.
“We received a favorable feedback from the Venice Commission, although it didn’t endorse total dismissal of judges,” Poroshenko said, adding that however, another way to purify judicial system was found through gradual personal assessment of every judge.
“Thus, we are making every effort to ensure the independence of judicial power from corruption and political interference,” the president said.
The head of state urged lawmakers to intensify their work.
“We have made significant efforts to create a new law enforcement system. Still, people will not feel the effect from this system until there is a judicial wall of lawlessness, injustice and corruption. That is why I count on your support,” Poroshenko said.
