People's Front backs Radical Party's Constitutional Court petition Rada dissolution is unconstitutional
KYIV. May 23 (Interfax) - The People's Front Party has called on members of all factions in Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada to sign a petition to the Constitutional Court dealing with the president's decree that dissolves parliament and schedules the country's snap parliamentary election for June 21.
MPs from the People's Front faction have already signed the petition, the party said on Facebook.
"We resolutely declare that it is each parliamentarian's political and civil duty to sign this petition, because we are dealing with a violation of the Constitution by the highest-ranking official of the state - the president of Ukraine. Against this backdrop, primitive explanations that the aim is allegedly to extend the work of this composition of parliament for several months appear to be pointless and unfounded. No! Either we defend the Main Law of Ukraine from this cynical attack today or its neglect will trigger new global threats for the state," the party said in its statement.
The People's Front additionally described the situation as a "test of the state forces' ability to defend their country from legal mayhem and the destruction of the foundations of its statehood."
Radical Party leader Oleh Lyashko said on Wednesday that the party's parliamentary faction would initiate the collection of MPs' signatures on May 23 to appeal to the Ukrainian Constitutional Court in connection with President Volodymyr Zelensky's order dissolving the Verkhovna Rada.
"We will initiate the collection of signatures of 45 deputies as early as tomorrow to appeal to the Constitutional Court over the unconstitutionality of Zelensky's order," Lyashko said.
He compared Zelensky's actions with what fourth Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych did in 2010.
"Systematic violations of the Constitution and laws of Ukraine by President Zelensky are fraught with destabilization of the country and planned chaos," Lyashko said.
The People's Front faction includes 80 MPs, while the faction of Lyashko's Radical Party consists of 21 parliamentarians.