MP: No votes in the Rada to support the Law on National Prayer Day

Iryna Konstankevych. Photo: Ukrinform

The draft law introducing National Prayer Day on February 24 lacks sufficient support and is unlikely to be considered in the session hall. This was stated by the First Deputy Chair of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy, Iryna Konstankevych, during a television broadcast, Ukrinform reports.

"Of course, February 24 is a special day for us. We understand that it is a tragic day, but it is also a memorable one for all Ukrainians, as it marks the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. However, at the moment, there is no unified position in the session hall on beginning this day annually with a national prayer. Therefore, it is unlikely that the draft law will be considered before February 24. We do not see the necessary number of votes to support it," Konstankevych explained.

She also reminded that a group of MPs submitted two draft laws on establishing National Prayer Day: the main one (registration No. 12336) and an alternative one (registration No. 12336-1). The proposal is to make February 24 a memorial and non-working day. However, the committee decided that this day should remain a working day. The second draft, which proposed changes in the form of a resolution, was also rejected.

Konstankevych emphasized that the initiators of the draft law refer to the experience of other countries that practice national prayer days.

The Parliamentary Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy recommended adopting draft law No. 12336, which proposes amendments to Ukraine's Labor Code to establish a National Prayer Day.

As the UOJ reported earlier, at the end of 2024, a draft law to establish a National Prayer Day in Ukraine was submitted to the Verkhovna Rada. The initiators of the draft law, including 37 MPs, proposed that on this day, the Rada sing "Bozhe Velykyi Yedynyi, nam Ukrainu khrany" ("God, the Great and One, Protect Ukraine for Us"), regional administrations hold a "Light a Candle" campaign, and a series of events be organized to commemorate the day.

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