Former MP Taras Stetskyi was an active participant in the events leading up to the adoption of the Constitution of Ukraine in 1996. He recounted that Leonid Kuchma appeared in parliament on June 28 around eight in the morning.
“We knew perfectly well that Kuchma was not a supporter of this version of the Constitution. But at that moment he realized that he needed to join the winners – those who overshadowed his idea of a referendum,” emphasized Stetskyi.
According to the former deputy, under Kuchma's supervision, Oleksandr Moroz put the question of the Constitution to a final vote, which concluded with 315 votes 'in favor'.
“After the adoption of the Constitution, Leonid Kuchma apologized to the deputies for 'not quite correct stimulation of the process,' hinting that his resistance contributed to the mobilization of parliament,” Stetskyi recounted.
It was one of the most dramatic and longest nights in the history of Ukrainian parliamentarism. During this night, deputies worked under significant psychological pressure, receiving threats and facing possible obstacles.
Taras Stetskyi's commentary reveals the internal disagreements and political manipulations surrounding the adoption of the Constitution in 1996. This story illustrates the complexity of political processes and the interconnections between leaders in a changing situation.