A liberationist constitution? Maidan’s revolutionary agenda and challenges for constitutional reform in Ukraine

European View - Tập 13 - Trang 21-28 - 2014
Andriy Tyushka1
1College of Europe, Warsaw, Poland

Tóm tắt

The new wave of the ‘Euro Revolution’ in Ukraine has revealed yet another glaring gap in the country’s social and political order: a constitutional one. The violation of Ukrainian citizens’ basic constitutional rights and freedoms, against the backdrop of excessively wide and frequently abused presidential powers, called for the emergence of a constitutional agenda for the revolutionary movement. The re-transition to the parliamentary–presidential form of government, accomplished in mid-February 2014, represents only the first stage of the constitutional agenda set by ‘Maidan’. Further changes to the form of government are forthcoming, which will very likely see Ukraine become a parliamentary republic. The constitutional process has been suspended, however, due to various constraining factors, both internal (the upcoming presidential elections) and external (Russia’s aggression in Crimea). Given the inherent demand for a continued constitutional transition to a parliamentary republic, the process is likely to be accomplished by the end of 2014.

Tài liệu tham khảo

Ashton, C. (2014). Remarks by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton following the Foreign Affairs Council. 10 February (140210/04). http://eeas.europa.eu/statements/docs/2014/140210_04_en.pdf. Accessed 10 February 2014. CCU (Constitutional Court of Ukraine). (2010). Rishennia Konstytutsiynogo Sudu Ukrayiny no. 20-rp/2010 [Decision of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine no. 20-rp/2010]. 30 September. http://www.ccu.gov.ua/doccatalog/document?id=122408. Accessed 10 March 2014. Stetsiuk, P. B. (2010). Okrema Dumka suddi Konstytutsiynogo Sudu Ukrayiny Stetsiuka P.B. stosovno Rishennia KSU no. 20-rp/2010 [Dissenting opinion of Justice P. B. Stetsiuk on Decision no. 20-rp/2010]. 6 October. http://www.ccu.gov.ua/doccatalog/document?id=122681. Accessed 16 March 2014. Ukraine. (2004). Zakon Ukrayiny ‘Pro Vnesennia Zmin do Konstytutsiyi Ukrayiny’ no. 2222-IV [Law of Ukraine no. 2222-IV ‘On amendments to the Constitution of Ukraine’]. 8 December. http://zakon2.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/2222-15. Accessed 10 March 2014. Ukraine. (2014). Zakon Ukrayiny ‘Pro Vidnovlennia Diyi Okremykh Polozhen’ Konstytutsiyi Ukrayiny’ no. 742-VII [Law of Ukraine no. 742-VII ‘On restoration of certain provisions of the Constitution of Ukraine’]. 21 February. http://zakon3.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/742-18. Accessed 21 February 2014. Venice Commission. (2010). Draft opinion on the constitutional situation in Ukraine. Opinion no. 599/2010. Strasbourg, 20 December. http://www.venice.coe.int/webforms/documents/default.aspx?pdffile=CDL(2010)126-e. Accessed 12 January 2014. Venice Commission (European Commission for Democracy through Law). (2005). Opinion on the amendments to the Constitution of Ukraine adopted on 8 December 2004. Strasbourg, 13 June (CDL-AD(2005)015). http://www.venice.coe.int/webforms/documents/default.aspx?pdffile=CDL-AD(2005)015-e. Accessed 13 April 2014.