Maguera: Elections will take place only at the expense of the State Budget

Author: Svyatoslav Khalus

The Decree of the President of Ukraine Victor Yushchenko on dissolution of the VRU of the 6^th convocation and fixing of early elections has come into effect today. The CEC needs UAH 417.5 million for these elections. BYuT have been blocking the podium of the VRU for two days and claimed to pass the State Budget 2009. Work of the parliament has been blocked, and without money no election will be possible.

So, the IMC (InterMedia Consulting) decided to ask the <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:2.0cm 42.5pt 2.0cm 3.0cm; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> Deputy President of the CEC Andriy Maguera how the CEC will find the way out from this situation and whether that amendments  to the electoral legislation are necessary as well as about the debts of the state in the CEC.

- Decree of the President on early elections has come into effect, but the VRU does not lay out funds from the budget for them. How will the CEC carry out the Decree of the President?

- I would like to stress that there will be no urgent need in these money in the next three, four or five days. Understand that the CEC needs this sum really, but the first days are usually a pause before the start. The political parties are nominating their representatives. Financing of the elections normally is carried out later.

But this question must be decided now. So, I don't exclude that the Central Electioneering Comission (CEC) will propose to the power to take urgent measures and lay out necessary funds for the elections from the State Budget of Ukraine. there is no other mechanism. National elections can be carried out only at the expense of the state budget. Tetrium non datur.  

- Some MPs state that if the amendments to the legislation are not implemented, the results of early elections will be cancelled. What do you think about?

- I share anxiety of these MPs, but I'd like to stress that the elections will take place under condition of laying out funds from the state budget of Ukraine. Certain points should be clarified, it is clear. All the members of the CEC will only greet the decisions which can simplify our work.

I wouldn't like to tell that the situation is so tragic, that if the amendments to the legislation are not implemented, the results of early elections will be cancelled. I don't think so, I believe that the elections can be carried out. But I greet any initiative of the MPs who want to simplify our work at these elections.

- According to the mass media, the state is in the CEC's debt from the last elections. Is it true?

- The state owes really to the Kyiv City Electoral Commission, it was distributor of financing at the local election and did not lay out necessary funds previewed by the Law on Local Election in Kyiv. I confirm this fact.

- And does the state owe something to the CEC for previous early elections to the Parliament?

- Not at all. The CEC was funded normally. We received everything that we had asked. The CEC returned to the budget all unspent money.

- How does the CEC prepare for early elections?

- the CEC is getting going. We are preparing necessary documents, such as schedule of main measures. Then we shall rule all work units of the secretariat. The work is only beginning now. Everything is quite normal.