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EPDE Policy Alert

Electoral Reform in Ukraine #13

EPDE
Ukraine

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Photo: Reuters

On July 11, 2019, ten days before the snap parliamentary election on July 21, the Ukrainian Parliament adopted an Electoral Code which introduces a proportional electoral system with open regional party lists for parliamentary elections and harmonizes Ukraine’s electoral legal framework. However, even if signed by the President, the Electoral Code would enter legal force only in December 2023.

 

EPDE Policy Alert

Electoral Reform in Ukraine #12

EPDE
Ukraine

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Photo: president.gov.ua

On May 22, the Ukrainian Parliament refused to vote on changes to the electoral law as they were proposed on the same day by President Zelenskiy. This issue summarizes recent developments regarding the (non)reform of Ukraine’s electoral legal framework ahead of the early parliamentary elections scheduled for July 21, 2019.

 

Presidential Elections

Free elections with obstacles - the 2019 Ukrainian presidential elections

Stefanie Schiffer
Ukraine

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The 2019 Ukrainian presidential elections once again proved, for the sixth time in a row, that Ukrainian democracy is solid enough to allow a peaceful transfer of power. Outgoing President Petro Poroshenko accepted his defeat and cleared the way for his successor Volodymyr Zelensky. What marked the presidential elections in Ukraine in 2019? What were their weak points and what are the challenges and tasks which the Ukrainian society and its international partners face in order to improve the electoral processes for the upcoming parliamentary elections? (in German)

 

Presidential Elections

Conclusions from E-Day by CVU

CVU
Ukraine

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The Committee of Voters in Ukraine (CVU)  found no systemic violations during E-Day. Those violations that were recorded included violations of voting procedures by the members of the precinct election commissions, inaccuracy of the voter lists, illegal campaigning, and photographing of the filled-in ballots by voters.

 

Presidential Elections

Preliminary statement on E-Day observation and parallel vote tabulation

OPORA
Ukraine

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The Civil Network OPORA found that the election took place in competitive environment and in compliance with basic standards of genuine elections, whereas cases of breaking national law failed to present any constraints for citizens to exercise their right to vote and be elected. 

 

EPDE Policy Alert

Electoral Reform in Ukraine #11

EPDE
Ukraine

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Photo: UNIAN

The Presidential elections in Ukraine are approaching fast, taking place on 31 March 2019. Issue no. 11 gives an update on recent developments regarding the Draft Election Code, which was approved by the Verkhovna Rada in the first reading in November 2017 and aims to harmonize Ukraine’s electoral legal framework by introducing a proportional electoral system with open regional party lists. 

 

Presidential Elections

2nd report on the Presidential election campaign

OPORA
Ukraine

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Representatives of the Civil Network OPORA reported that the misuse of administrative resources and transparency of campaign financing became two major challenges in February during the Presidential election campaign. They further reported on the establishment of district election commissions and on instances of false accusations launched against certain candidates of being involved in vote buying schemes.

 

Presidential Elections

Observation report of the presidential election campaign

OPORA
Ukraine

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OPORA has published its first observation report on the presidential election campaign where it has been recording the wide-scale early campaigning efforts organized by over ten potential candidates over the last few months. There remains some legal uncertainty about the character of such campaigning and there is also a problem of shadow campaign financing occuring during the official election process.

 

 

Presidential Elections

Long-term monitoring report on the run-up to the presidential elections

CVU
Ukraine

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The latest long-term monitoring report on the presidential elections by the Committee of Voters of Ukraine (CVU) indicates that there remain some technical flaws with the current legislation concerning the presidential election. These include the lack of limits on the presidential candidates' election funds and the possible appearance of a significant number of biased members of electoral commissions. Other issues concerning early campaigning and the placement of illegal campaigning are also addressed in this report. 

 

EPDE Policy Alert

Electoral Reform in Ukraine #10

EPDE
Ukraine

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Photo: 5 Kanal

With 2019 just around the corner, Ukraine is preparing for two landmark elections next year - presidential and parliamentary elections. Issue no. 10 gives an outlook on next year’s presidential and parliamentary elections with a special focus on the lack of an effective system of legal liability for violations of the electoral law. 

 

EPDE Policy Alert

Electoral Reform in Ukraine #9

EPDE
Ukraine

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Current issue outlines the status quo of the electoral reform process less than a year before the parliamentary elections in October 2019 and provides an outlook for next year. Observers in Ukraine do not assume that there is currently a majority in the Parliament that supports the introduction of a proportional electoral system with open regional party lists. The completely open outcome of the upcoming presidential elections in March 2019 and the thereto related uncertainty among all political forces in Ukraine will further paralyze the reform process in the upcoming months.

 

Donetsk and Lugansk Elections

Foreign Observation of the Illegitimate General Elections in the DPR and LPR

EPDE
Ukraine

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The international community considered the “General elections” in Donetsk and Lugansk as illegitimate and did not send any observers to monitor them. Aiming to fill the void of legitimacy, the “authorities” of the DPR and LPR invited dozens of “international observers” from countries such as Austria, Canada, France, Italy and  Germany. None of them were transparent about the methodology they employed for observing the election processes and, therefore, violated the Code of Conduct for International Election Observers. We have identified their names and their background.

 

EPDE Policy Alert

Electoral Reform in Ukraine #8

EPDE
Ukraine

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Photo: Unian

On 20 September 2018, the Ukrainian Parliament appointed 14 new members of the Central Election Commission (CEC) and, thus, all nominees proposed earlier by the President. At the same time, the Parliament dismissed 13 CEC commissioners whose terms formally expired already in 2014 (one member’s term ended in February 2017). The new CEC members are appointed for seven years.

 

Follow-Up on Electoral Reform

Electoral reform in Ukraine: last chance for implementing

OPORA
Ukraine

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One of the key aspects of the electoral reform in Ukraine is the abolition of the parallel election system which should be replaced by a fully proportional parliamentary election system with open party lists. The application of a parallel system with a majoritarian component leads to preservation of an old political elite, thus the current parliament have no will to replace it.

 

EPDE Policy Alert

Electoral Reform in Ukraine #7

EPDE
Ukraine

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On 5 July 2018, the Ukrainian Parliament failed to renew the Central Election Commission (CEC). Only 189 out of 226 required MPs supported the motion to hold a vote (1) on the dismissal of 13 acting members of the CEC whose terms expired already in June 2014 and February 2017, and (2) on the appointment of 13 new members. Earlier, all factions and groups of the Verkhovna Rada stated that they demand the renewal of the CEC.

 
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