Zelensky working with Venice Commission to resolve constitutional crisis

Ukrainian President Zelensky discussed the search for
a balanced decision for a quick and effective resolution to the constitutional
crisis during a Nov. 20 telephone call with Gianni Buquicchio, the head of the
European Commission for Democracy through Law, the president’s web site
reported that day. They also discussed the urgent need to draft legislation to
renew punitive measures for submitting fraudulent information in electronic
declarations, as well ensuring the full-fledged work of the National Agency for
Corruption Prevention and the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine. “It’s
necessary to draft mechanisms that will forever remove the possibility of any
kind of influence on the judges of the Constitutional Court and improve the
procedures of judges reaching decisions. It’s important to renew society’s
trust in the constitutional jurisdiction. This trust is currently completely
ruined,” Zelensky said.

Recall, the G7 ambassadors to Ukraine
discussed with President Zelensky the need to
ensure an honest and transparent selection of judges to the Constitutional
Court during their Nov. 19 videoconference. They also discussed measures to
resolve the negative consequences of recent court rulings and avoiding the
further rolling back of anti-constitutional reforms. “This is a historic
possibility to achieve the conducting of judicial reforms that meet the
expectations of the Ukrainian people,” said a G7 statement on Twitter.

Zenon Zawada: Zelensky’s
actions in recent weeks indicate that he is following Buquicchio’s advice in
putting aside his calls for removing the authority of the entire Constitutional
Court. And he has taken up Buquicchio’s invitation to work with the Venice
Commission in drafting legislation to repair the damage of the scandalous Oct.
27 ruling by the court that undermined Ukraine’s anti-corruption
infrastructure. This is the most positive, stable approach to a negative
situation.