Ukrainian Prime Minister and Ukrainian Strategy Party leader Volodymyr Groysman has said that the next extraordinary elections to parliament could be held simultaneously with local elections in 2020, after reforming parliament.

"If we form the Verkhovna Rada from 423 members of parliament according to the old system, will it mean we will have to live in this situation for five years? That's wrong. Therefore, as soon as we form the parliament, we should conduct reforms, take away immunity. It's necessary for the president to sign [the Electoral Code] open lists, to decrease the number of parliament members, to strengthen decentralization in the Constitution and then to hold early elections after a period of time," Groysman said in an exclusive interview with the Kyiv-based Interfax-Ukraine news agency.

The prime minister stressed that the next extraordinary elections should be held not in summer, but "in the spring of 2020 or in the autumn of 2020, combining this with local elections so that it costs less."

According to him, 250 members of parliament is optimal for representing Ukraine in the legislature and in terms of effectiveness of making necessary decisions.

"Moreover, the introduction of open lists will improve the quality of elections to parliament," he said

Groysman said he did not support the idea of introducing a two-chamber parliamentary system as it could delay decision making.