Samopomich party leader: Bribes offered to Rada deputies before voting on constitutional amendments on decentralization
KYIV. Aug 29 (Interfax) - Andriy Sadovy, the leader of the Ukrainian party Samopomich (Self-Assistance) and Lviv mayor, claims that attempts have been made to bribe members of the party's parliamentary faction before the voting on amendments to the constitution scheduled for August 31.
"Tough pressure has been put on the people's deputies before the voting on the constitution on Monday. There will also be an attempt to split the Samopomich faction. Money, offices, prospects and other things have been offered," Sadovy said on Facebook on Saturday.
"I am absolutely convinced of a firm and principled position of most of my colleagues. As regards the few who are hesitating, let's hope they were able to read the right books in their childhood," he said.
It was reported earlier that President Petro Poroshenko was scheduled to have a working meeting with the parliamentarians on August 29 to discuss a constitutional reform regarding decentralization.
The parliamentary factions of Samopomich and the Radical Party of Oleh Lyashko, which belong to the parliamentary coalition, had said earlier that they would not vote for the constitutional amendments regarding decentralization on August 31.
Poroshenko said on Friday that he hoped to persuade the Samopomich and Radical Party leaders to change their mind on the matter.
The amendments need to be supported by at least 226 parliamentarians to be passed at the first reading and by 300 at the final reading.
In addition to Samopomich and the Radical Party, the coalition also includes the Petro Poroshenko Bloc, the Popular Front, and Batkivshchyna.
