While You Were Drinking

On January 1, 2006 Ukraine switched from a presidential-parliamentary to a parliamentary-presidential republic in accordance with an law signed by the Verkhovna Rada on December 8, 2004. The changes connected to this shift include the structure parliamentary voting – before at least 50% of the parliament was elected on a majority basis, now voters will vote exclusively for a political party. The deputies elected to the Verkhovna Rada will now serve a five instead of four-year term and form the government. Concorde Capital: These amendments to the constitution have made the parliamentary elections in March critically important as they effectively weaken the powers of the President.  The amendments have been questioned by several members of the government, because they were signed as a compromise at the height of the orange revolution. According to Justice Minister Serhiy Holovaty the changes are illegal because according to the constitution amendments of this nature must be put up for a referendum. President Yushchenko has said he questions the legality of these amendments.