Volodymyr Lytvyn, Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, expects that the Local Elections will be held on October 31, 2010
Asked by Livyi Bereh newspaper about the date of local elections, V.Lytvyn stated: "I think they will be held on this date." "It does not depend on the willingness of Lytvyn. If this process can not be confronted, it should be leaded", he declared.
V.Lytvyn stressed that appointment of local elections for 2011 "violates neither laws nor the Constitution." "The current date (October 31, 2010) is merely ‘attached´ to the public mood and the ratings of the political forces. Paragraph 7 of the transitional provisions of the Law on Local Elections adopted in 2005 reads: if the corresponding amendments are introduced to the Constitution, the deputies and mayors elected in 2006 shall work for five years. Thus, the next local elections shall be held in 2011. However, the amendments were not introduced, so the Constitutional Court referred its response despite the recommendations of The Verkhovna Rada", he stated.
The Head of the Parliament called for suspending discussions whether the elections would be held at all. He deems necessary "to focus on the rules of the election campaign not to change them in the very process of elections." "It is equally important to manage the country, which is a difficult task during the election race", V.Lytvyn stated. The Head of the Parliament deems necessary to adopt a ‘balanced´ election law.
V.Lytvyn declared that the bill on the local elections under discussion contains several novelties to be adjusted. The Head of the Parliament stated that this bill "has not been brought forward and registered yet, so it has no specific author." "The document is being adjusted", he declared, reminding that in conformity with the Standing Orders, the bill would be registered after all the bills on this topic were scrutinized. "I expect that the bill on the official date of elections will be scrutinized next week", V.Lytvyn stated.
If a mixed election system obtains legislative support, the candidates nominated under the majoritarian system shall be proposed on behalf of the parties, which shall reduce the number of ‘turncoats.´ V.Lytvyn also believes that the leaders of regional party organizations should be the leaders of the nomination lists to the regional councils.
V.Lytvyn stated that parties would not be re-registered, "other administrative interferences being also prevented." "I doubt that anyone would like to make problems where none existed before", he declared.
The Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine expects that the parliamentary elections will be held in 2011.