KYIV. June 26 (Interfax) - Constitutional amendments put forward by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko entrust the Verkhovna Rada with the appointment of the defense and foreign ministers by the proposal of the prime minister backed by the president.
"The Defense Minister and the Foreign Minister of Ukraine shall be appointed by the Verkhovna Rada by the proposal of the prime minister coordinated with the president," says a draft constitutional amendment seen by Interfax.
In addition, the president suggested that article 114 of the constitution be adjusted to entrust the parliament with the appointment of the Ukrainian prime minister by the proposal of the president.
"The president shall nominate a candidate for the prime minister of Ukraine with due account of the opinion of the parliament coalition in the Verkhovna Rada," the draft runs.
According to the presidential draft, the Verkhovna Rada will appoint government members by the proposal of the prime minister (the current edition of the constitution contains the same provision).
The current constitution says the defense and foreign ministers shall be appointed by the parliament by the proposal of the president.
The Ukrainian president said on Wednesday the draft constitutional amendments would be lodged with the Verkhovna Rada on Thursday.