Constitutional Court sets parliamentary elections for 2012

Ukraine’s Constitutional Court ruled that the next parliamentary elections should be held in October 2012, Interfax reported yesterday citing the leader of the Party of Regions faction in parliament Oleksandr Yefremov. The current parliament was elected in 2007 to a five-year term. However, the Constitutional Court  last month ruled 2004 amendments to the Constitution invalid and reinstated the 1996 Constitution, which foresees only a four-year term for MPs. Brad Wells: A formal announcement has yet to be made by the Constitutional Court, but it is widely expected to yield a ruling favorable to the Party of Regions. With the parliamentary election two years out, the government can turn to implementing badly needed and unpopular economic reforms. Key officials, including President Viktor Yanukovych just this week, have hinted that such steps are necessary in 2011. Various government officials have spoken recently about revamping the customs code, pension system and government bureaucracy, after approval of the proposed tax reform currently moving through parliament.