"In the near future we plan to complete the preparation of the text of the draft law on the local referendum," Ruslan Stefanchuk

Information Department of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Secretariat
15 March 2021, 10:18


The First Vice Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk chaired the regular sitting of the Working Group on the development of draft laws on democracy, whose members spoke about their vision of the frequency of local referendums, the number of issues that can be raised, funding, deadlines and registration of the bill on local referendum.
The MPs, the Association of Ukrainian Cities, the Institute of Legislation of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, representatives of the Ministry of Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine, the Central Election Commission of Ukraine and public organizations joined the discussion.
"It was previously discussed that local referendums would be financed from local budgets. People have to decide for themselves whether they have the opportunity to hold a referendum in terms of local budgeting. We refused the offer of partial funding of local referendums from the state budget, because we understand that before the elections we will see a parade of local referendums at the expense of the state budget," said the First Deputy Speaker of Ukraine.
The most controversial issues were the frequency of local referendums and the number of issues that could be raised.
"So far, we have settled on the formula: one local referendum - one question. However, if we manage to develop a clear and non-conflict mechanism, we do not rule out the possibility of putting several issues to the one referendum. Regarding the frequency of holding: it has been previously determined that local referendums can be held twice a year - in March and October. The referendum may coincide with the national elections - parliamentary and presidential. There is no abuse of political interest. But it cannot be held simultaneously with regular or early local elections," Ruslan Stefanchuk stressed.
The members of the Working Group plan to complete the preparation of the text of the draft law on the local referendum in the near future, and then submit it for public discussion. Then the draft law will be finalized based on the results of the all-Ukrainian discussion, registered in the Parliament of Ukraine and sent for examination to the Venice Commission.
"In order to present and discuss the bill, before its registration, we plan to make regional trips in all directions of Ukraine: North, South, West and East. By discussing the text of the bill with representatives of village, settlement, city councils, we will be able to improve the work and provide the people with an effective mechanism for direct influence on local authorities. So far, about thirty councils at various levels have spoken out in support of the bill. We need to initiate a direct dialogue with them and involve everyone, only then we will be able to get the maximum effect," Ruslan Stefanchuk stressed.