Venice Commission adamant that a Constitution cannot be passed without parliament.

The Deputy Secretary of the Venice Commission Thomas Markert believes that the Constitution cannot be passed at a referendum bypassing parliament.

He told the UNIAN information agency in Strasbourg on Friday that this is not normal since the Constitution needs to gain the backing of a part of the Deputies of the Verkhovna Rada.

At the same time, commenting on European practice, he said that in some European countries the possibility was envisaged for approving all other laws besides the Constitution at such a referendum.

“However for this a special law is needed on referendums.”

The European Commission for Democracy through Law (the Venice Commission), is the Council of Europe’s advisory body on constitutional matters