Disagree — and You’re in Uniform: Bankova’s Message to Parliamentarians

Source: Author’s Facebook page

The speaker’s threats lay bare a simple reality: the president either hasn’t read the Constitution or is choosing to ignore that Ukraine is, in fact, a parliamentary-presidential republic.

Talks like “Parliamentarians will go to war” sound impressive to the public, but they hardly have anything in common with reality. And even if someone does “go,” we all understand perfectly well where such characters will end up—definitely not at zero, but somewhere in headquarters and in warm rear positions.

That is not the real issue. What matters is this: the single-party majority in parliament has effectively collapsed. Bankova’s nervous threats only underscore that reality. If the majority were truly cohesive and disciplined, there would be no need for public pressure or political theatrics.

Some lawmakers, it seems, are no longer willing to push buttons simply because they are told to do so from above. Perhaps they are beginning to think about responsibility — not only today’s, but also the kind they will have to bear tomorrow. Because, as King Solomon is said to have put it, this too shall pass.

And this is where the really interesting story begins: the conflict between the president and his own faction has already reached a serious level. The president is not acting as a head of state in a parliamentary-presidential republic at war—a role that requires balance, negotiation, and the careful building of political relationships. Instead, he behaves like someone accustomed to simply issuing orders from above, unable to tolerate it when the system suddenly stops obeying. And now, it seems, those long kept in line through political patronage and discipline are beginning to slip out of control

A parliamentary crisis during the war is the last thing Ukraine needs right now. Yes, such rhetoric may temporarily boost the president’s approval ratings, as he knows how to speak in terms that resonate with his voters. But the problem is that loud phrases do not replace voices in the session hall. And they certainly do not help pass through parliament the package of decisions that the country needs to maintain support and assistance. That is, instead of solving problems, the authorities risk creating even more problems for Ukraine.

Therefore, the story, of course, looks absurd. Although, to be honest, there is nothing new. It is just the usual style: pressure instead of dialogue, threats instead of politics, emotional blackmail instead of public administration.

Recall that President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that parliamentarians must either do their jobs or he is prepared to review the mobilization laws so they can be sent to the front. According to the head of state, another way to resolve the voting deadlock in the Rada would be legislative changes and new elections, but these are impossible during wartime. e.

Earlier, the first deputy head of the Servant of the People faction, Andriy Motovylovets, reported that it has become much more difficult for the party responsible for securing votes in parliament, and its stable core has shrunk. According to him, previously the faction leadership could count on approximately 180 deputies who consistently supported the vote, and now the “core” consists of 111 deputies.

By the way, non-partisan MP Mykola Tyshchenko has joined the “Restoration of Ukraine” group in the Verkhovna Rada. As MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak from Holos explained, following the conviction of Anatoliy Hunko, the group’s membership had dropped to 16, putting its continued existence at risk. Tyshchenko thus became the 17th member, securing the group’s survival, which is composed mainly of former members of the now-banned OPZH party.

Also, follow “Pryamyi” on Facebook, X, Telegram, and Instagram.

• Materials published in the “OPINIONS” section reflect the opinion of the author of the publication, who bears full responsibility for the accuracy of the information.
• The editorial staff of prm.ua may not share the opinions expressed in the author’s material.
• The owner of the webpage in the “OPINIONS” section is the author of the publication.