Volodymyr Lytvyn: Subject of the Election Law might become the Reason for Political Confrontation
Volodymyr Lytvyn, Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, doubts that the law on election of the People´s Deputies will be adopted by the end of the current session. He admits that the subject of the election law might become the reason for political confrontation in autumn this year.
In the interview to Interfax Ukraine News Agency, V.Lytvyn analyzed fundamental provisions of the bill, stating that the issue of election system is the most debatable one.
He also singled out such key issues as the passing barrier, authorities of the election commissions, role of judges in the election process, and method of formation of election commissions. V.Lytvyn also stated that if the elections are held under a mixed majoritarian-proportional system, the discussion will arise as to the right of the candidates to stand for election in both constituency and by the party list.
As for the passing barrier, the Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine admitted that a five-per-cent barrier is suggested on purpose, so that it could be lowered to four per cent after extensive debates, and later presented as a compromise by Ukrainian standards.
"I am deeply convinced that if the mixed majoritarian-proportional election system is introduced, the passing barrier will lose its sense," V.Lytvyn stated. "It is nonsense if the party which gets 600 thousand votes passing a three-per-cent barrier does not get into the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine."
The Head of the Parliament believes that it would be a compromise to allow the political parties to nominate their candidates both in constituencies and by the party lists. This approach will allow party structuring of the Ukrainian society. "Moreover, if this approach is applied, there will be fewer parties in the Verkhovna Rada, than it is during this convocation," he added.
"The subject of the election law might become the reason for political confrontation in autumn this year," he assumed.
V.Lytvyn also presumed that if elections are held under the mixed majoritarian-proportional system, the candidates will try to demonstrate their non-affiliation with any parties due to the negative public attitude to them.
"If we want to settle the issue of political structuring of Ukrainian society, the law should envisage that if a candidate is nominated by any political party, they shall join the faction of this party in the parliament. This will guarantee responsibility of the parties and their representatives before the voters," he stated.
V.Lytvyn doubts that the said Law can be adopted by the end of the current session, as the respective bill has not been registered at the Verkhovna Rada. He also stressed that the bill has yet to be reviewed by the Venice Commission.
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