22 March 2011, 12:30
Today Mykola Tomenko, Deputy Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, discussed women´s representation in The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine with the members of the National Democratic Institute of Ukraine. He stated that the change of the election system might cut down on women´s representation in the Ukrainian Parliament.
M.Tomenko stated, "If the election system is changed, the number of women in the parliament might fall even more (8% currently)." According to the Deputy Chairman, Ukrainian Parliament might consolidate its position as a leader among the European Parliaments by the small representation of women, if the democratic principles of majoritarian elections are violated, and the scenario of elections to the local councils in 2010 is repeated.
"On the one hand, the procedure of electoral listing should become more democratic, on the other hand equal opportunities in the majoritarian constituencies should be observed, so that popular regional leaders, a great number of women among them, could run for deputy offices," stated M.Tomenko.