Speaker’s U-turn
So the high-profile request to remove the immunity of MPs Yuriy Hrymchak and Andriy Parubiy has been returned to the Prosecutor-General´s Office. This was confirmed in a low-key manner by parliamentary speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn last week, who said that he was fulfilling a decision by the Parliamentary Rules Committee asking law-enforcers to provide additional materials. The two MPs figure in a case over the events of April 27, probably the blackest day in the history of the Ukrainian Parliament, when it ratified the agreement between the presidents of Ukraine and Russia on prolonging the stationing of the Russian Fleet till 2042. However, there was no proper discussion of any meaning and this led to clashes between the opposition, which tried to disrupt the vote, and representatives of the ruling coalition. Fighting and smoke bombs ensued and Lytvyn was pelted with eggs among fight scenes worthy of any spaghetti western.
However, almost two months on and cases have so only been opened against these two MPs. It is debatable whether this is a coincidence, as both are members of the opposition. The parliamentary commission set up to probe the events of that day was clearly not impartial. It was only last week that an MP who was badly injured that day, opposition Oles Doniy, was discharged from hospital. He received serious injuries at the hands, literally, of a Party of Regions MP. Doniy is still not fully fit, but surely justice should be seen to be done. No action has so far been taken against his attackers though it seems that sort of corporate solidarity is in play here. Lytvyn can sense that though enraged by the egg attack on his person, it would be a bad precedent to start taking away immunity.
There is a danger that the prosecutor will drag his heels and with the summer recess not far off Parliament will not get to vote on lifting the immunity from prosecution enjoyed by these two lawmakers or any others involved that day, a move which is necessary before any court proceedings can go ahead. The case will then be kicked into the long grass and die a convenient death. So much so for the comments by Lytyyn, made on several occasions, that MPs would be punished and that damage caused in Parliament on April 27 would be paid from the personal pockets of guilty MPs and not by the taxpayer. Immunity should be restricted or even scrapped as it gives MPs carte blanche to act with impunity rather than protect their ability to work for the good of democracy. Surely immunity should mean protection for democratic processes and not protection for criminal activity. The time to act is now.    

Creaky coalition
Dissenting voices have been heard within the bowels of the two smaller members, the Communists and the Lytvyn Bloc, of the ruling parliamentary coalition of late. And it seems they are not too happy with big brother, the Party of Regions. And the latest signs are not good for the coalition’s future. Last Sunday Communist party leader Petro Symonenko criticized the Party of Regions for “ambiguous views and lack of consistency in action on certain matters of principle”. Of course, this is not the first such comment from the Communists and could be brushed aside as merely a reminder in the light of unsatisfied desire for posts in the executive. Or they may be part of internal fighting. Symonenko said he did not want his force to become a younger brother for big brother. Symbolic words indeed at the present time. Senior Communist Leonid Hrach says he will insist the party leaves the coalition.
Symonenko’s rant came a week after speaker Lytvyn said that the Party of Regions, "finding itself at the peak of its success is trying to grab everything", may want an early election next spring. Though he withdrew his statement the next day by claiming he was misquoted, the damage was done. The comments came hot on the heels of claims by members of Lytvyn People’s Party that pressure is being put on members to join the Party of Regions. Insecurity abounds so it seems. Polls suggest the president’s ratings are high. Both Lytvyn and Symonenko may be worried about their dwindling influence in an expanding coalition of 250 MPs, now that neither has the so-called "golden share" in the creation of a majority but is aware of the lack of certainty in getting the necessary 3% of votes in any early election. What is clear is that the dissenting voices suggest the first cracks, whether over posts or ideological differences, are appearing, even at this early stage in the coalition’s life.