Yulia Tymoshenko: Ukraine needs a new Constitution that won’t allow the next government to crush the country

A new Ukrainian Constitution must be drafted and adopted that won’t allow every successive government to "crush the country", says Yulia Tymoshenko, the leader of the Batkivshchyna Party.

"In the next elections we need to select not faces and not even leaders, though I myself am a leader. We need to finally find the courage to draft a Constitution not for Yushchenko or Yanukovych or Tymoshenko, but one that won’t allow whoever comes to power, be they good or bad, educated or not, patriot or not, to crush the country," Yulia Tymoshenko said today while appearing as a guest on a program on the Ukraina Channel.

In her opinion, the changes in system of government indicate that the current Constitution doesn’t work. "Some say that there are very good rules, freedoms, and human rights written in our Constitution – better than anywhere else in the world. But if these rights and freedoms don’t exist and the system to protect them doesn’t work, this means that the Constitution doesn’t work."

"Now, while there is time, we need to gather not politicians, but the entire intellectual community of Ukraine and develop a plan for Ukraine, without political interests, without slogans or commercials. We need to draft a Constitution that once adopted won’t be changed by even a letter or comma, and pass a package of key laws. And we need to create, once and for all, an environment in which regardless of who comes to power, if they take something dishonestly, they will be held responsible while still in power, not when going into opposition."

The leader of the Batkivshchyna Party also believes that the new Constitution should include a provision that would allow a pre-term change in leadership. "If after a year we see that the president or people in government aren’t suitable, we need to replace them as soon as possible – not in five years. We don’t have five years, and then another five years…and then life is over."

"Our task in these elections is to stop promoting leaders and put our heads together to develop a plan for our country even before someone becomes president, prime minister or the government. I am convinced that this work will be rewarding and appreciated. And once people feel they have in their hands an effective tool and somewhere to go if their rights are violated, then something will finally change in our country."