On January
12, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine passed the Law of Ukraine on Making
Amendments to Some Laws of Ukraine on Status of Deputies of the Verkhovna Rada
of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Local Council Deputies.
The Law establishes reasons for re-calling local council deputies, or the so-called "imperative mandate".
Committee of Voters of Ukraine (CVU) commented on the law and possible consequences of its implementation.
On several occasions, the CVU pointed out that local council deputies breached election programs of political parties on which lists they had been elected.
Also, many deputies have quitted their factions taking favorable opportunity of the "political market". Mainly, it was provoked by "an anything goes" approach to formation of election list by political parties.
The situation was aggravated because previously legislation offered no means for withdrawal of deputies.
At the same time, the CVU believes that the Law adopted by the Verkhovna Rada
of Ukraine significantly increases influence of party leadership upon tens of
thousands of local deputies.
Actually, they become dependent on will of a few persons. As the Law fails to
give exhaustive list of reasons for termination of office, supreme party bodies
may deprive a deputy of the mandate for any reason whatsoever.
The CVU's opinion is that the Law does not solve the issue of party discipline and accountability of local party deputies in full scope, as the problem remains topical. Instead, the act introduces new undemocratic practices and may restrict rights of local council deputies.
The CVU calls national deputies of Ukraine to improve the legislation on status of local council deputies and approve an exhaustive list of reasons for termination of office of local council deputies.
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