President ready to discuss simultaneous early parliamentary and presidential election

Speaking to journalists after his visit to training ground of the 8th Army Corps of the Ukrainian Ground Forces in Khmelnitsky region, President Victor Yushchenko stressed that he is ready to discuss possibility of holding simultaneous early parliamentary and presidential election.

“I would like to announce officially that I am ready to approve the decision on holding early presidential election in this country. Because this decision depends on me now”, - he said.

According to him, in package with such a step the early election to the parliament should be haled but in accordance with the new proportional open lists system.

Beside that Victor Yushchenko stressed that he is ready to submit his draft law on alterations to electoral legislation to the Verkhovna Rada next week.

As another condition for holding early parliamentary and presidential election President Yushchenko named “political cleansing” before the voters. He explained that he means adoption of alterations to the legislation, which would abolish deputies’ immunity. “I think that it would be a good demonstration that all those who are going to take part in the election want to do it openly and without fear of accountability before the law”, - he said.

In addition President Yushchenko said that for early elections to happen it is absolutely necessary to adopt the law on their financing.