Recommendations on how to hold Local elections in Ukraine in a pandemic
Brief summary in English of conclusions and recommendations from the Committee of Voters of Ukraine (CVU)’s event on the holding of elections during a pandemic. International experience The spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic has significantly affected the organization and conduct of elections worldwide. More than 50 countries have postponed election until later. In particular, […]
Analysis of draft law on the holding of referenda
People are exercising the power directly and via the public authorities and self-government bodies1. In the opinion of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine, an element of the process of direct exercise of power by the people includes the exercise of Constitutional rights and freedoms by Ukraine’s citizens, such as the right to vote at elections and […]
Verkhovna Rada adopts changes to the Electoral Code
Verkhovna Rada adopted the draft law No. 3485 “On Introducing Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine on Improving Electoral Law,” in the first reading. It introduces changes to the Electoral Code. The decision was supported by 292 MPs. The draft law also took into account certain proposals from the Civil Network OPORA. On June, 4, during […]
Election Code changes: Need to prioritize amendments on local elections and have parliamentary expert dialogue
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (VRU) Committee on Organization of State Government, Regional Development, Local Self-Government and Urban Planning has returned to the improvement of the Election Code before 2020 regular local elections. On May 12, the Subcommittee on Elections and Referendums held an online discussion of critical changes to the Election Code, drafted by MPs. […]
Reform success: Verkhovna Rada votes to reduce monetary deposit for Local elections
On April 30, 2020, in a positive development, the Verkhovna Rada voted to significantly lower the monetary deposit for candidates to oblast councils and councils in cities with more than 90,000 voters. The size of the monetary deposit for candidacy to these councils will be reduced by 90 percent – from four minimum monthly salaries for […]
2020 Roadmap for electoral, referendum and political finance reforms
Executive Summary On December 19, 2019, after eight years of consultations and negotiations between political actors, civil society, and the expert community, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine finally adopted a new election code. The final version of the code largely reflects recommendations proposed by civil society and election experts to ensure human rights and facilitate […]
Draft law on restricting access to information is excessive and unjustified
Draft law No 3294 has been registered in the Parliament. It suggests suspending the terms for consideration of citizen requests, requests for public information, and lawyers’ enquiries for the quarantine period. Civil Network OPORA is critical about the draft law deeming such restrictions as excessive. Draft law No 3294 was submitted to the Parliament on March, 30, […]
Need to renew transparent and inclusive consultations on amendments to the Election Code
On December 19, 2019, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted into law the Election Code of Ukraine. Its adoption and the entering into force of most of its provisions already in January 2020 marked an important step towards the harmonization of the legal framework for elections in Ukraine in line with the recommendations of international […]
Illegal political advertising on Facebook: Why is it a problem and what can we do about it
OPORA explored the pre-election campaigning on Facebook during the 2019 presidential race. It was found that parties and candidates have not declared in their official reports dozens of millions of hryvnas spent for ads in the social media. It breaks electoral standards but the law on elections does not provide any sanctions for politicians hiding their finance […]
Parliament must resume electoral reform and prepare for local elections
Civil Network OPORA hereby urges the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the parliamentary committee on the organization of state power, regional development, local self-government, and urban planning to resume and intensify the electoral reform process and the legislative preparations for the regular local elections in Ukraine. The most recent public and expert discussion in this committee […]