“Decentralization has given an impetus to changes in the Ukrainian society’s mentality,” – Andriy Parubiy, the Chairman of Parliament
He underlined that idea when delivering his speech at the Home rule (self-governance) forum (III Forum of Amalgamated Communities) on Wednesday.
A.Parubiy stressed that in the period when Ukraine had virtually faced the main challenge - protection of its territorial integrity and borders, - there had come understanding that it was impossible to make Ukraine strong and successful unless deep internal reforms were conducted.
He then highlighted an important role the Prime Minister V.Hroisman had played in the above reforms.
The head of the Ukrainian parliament stressed that the above mentioned reforms should be implemented in nearly all spheres of social life, rebuffing at the same time the aggression of the Russian Federation.
According to the Speaker, "Ukraine has been in a colonial noose for hundreds of years and, unfortunately, any power – either local or central - became alien for the masses. And then there has come quite a deep sense of estrangement from the state and its authorities - the feeling of utter estrangement, with which it was impossible to build a successful society”.
And it was very important to return a citizen the feeling that it is his country, his town, and his community.
The creation of new communities and ATC elections have given millions of Ukrainians the sensation that they are now masters of their land, that they have become those who are empowered to decide and manage the funds which they make in their communities - and how the communities will develop.
“This is that major change in the nation’s mentality. And this is a great ability of Ukrainians to build a new Ukrainian society,” underscored the Chairman.
“The martial law ten oblasts of Ukraine shall have the ATC elections upon completion of the defense emergency situation,” – A.Parubiy, the Chairman
Appearing before the home rule forum on Wednesday, the Chairman of Parliament A.Parubiy informed there had been much debate over launching the ATC elections in those ten oblasts which are subject to enacting the martial rule. Much of the debaters were out for triggering off the elections regardless of the military situation.
However, he said, after much consultation with the Central Election Commission (CEC) and other state legal bodies, they all had come to a decision that the said process could not be started. However, it shall be resumed right after the martial law ends.
A.Parubiy stressed that "in the year of elections, which are capable of giving a strong push to development of the state for the next five years, while ‘feeding up’ our local self-government, we must also make every effort to ensure ineluctability of Ukraine’s development that we have had since the Maidan and the Revolution of Dignity".
"And I am deeply convinced that our cohesion and understanding of the strategic tasks the state currently faces would give us enough strength and spirit to enable us to build up a European-like modern Ukrainian state. I thank you, colleagues, and wish you a fruitful work at the forum," said A. Parubiy at the end of his speech.