IFES: Statement on Outcome of the Election System Week for Ukraine
February 3, 2016
Ukraine has undertaken a series of election system changes as her democracy has evolved over the last 25 years. However, system reform remains high on the agenda as Ukrainians seek to adapt the laws to match their new realities.
This week, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) in close cooperation with the Venice Commission organized a series of events to discuss prospects for electoral system reform. These events included representatives of political and civil society, alongside leading experts and members of the administration.
There was a large degree of consensus around the following findings:
A proportional electoral system, with open lists, is the most appropriate method of electing Ukraine's legislature and enhancing Ukraine's democracy. It was also noted that there are significant political and technical issues to be addressed when attempting to introduce an open list proportional system. Indeed, there are a myriad of choices within an open list PR system that will have to be carefully analyzed.
The participants expressed the desire to use multiple multimember constituencies under the proportional system for the parliamentary elections.
Considerations of gender equality should be mainstreamed in all discussions of election system reform. Ukraine has committed itself to a number of international obligations in this regard. For example, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, has noted that balanced representation implies that no one gender have more than 60% membership in a national legislature. Participants committed themselves to achieving such balance through every means necessary. Furthermore, it was stressed, that gender equality must be meaningful beyond simply the numbers and any legal mechanisms to advance the position of women must be enforced. Consideration should be also given to amending Article 24 of the Ukraine's Constitution that would make it clear that the laws could provide for measures aimed to ensure balanced representation of sexes in elected office.
To facilitate vibrant and inclusive election system law reform, consideration should be given to establishing a Working Group (WG) under the auspices of the Rada including the representatives of the Government, civil society, domestic and international election experts, political parties and other stakeholders. This WG could be entrusted with the tasks of designing key elements of the reform and drafting amendments to election-related legislation. The WG should organize its work in a transparent and inclusive manner.
In order to avoid any delays in this long awaited reform, a road map for the overall election law reform, including the electoral system reform, should be proposed by the WG and publicly debated and supported by the key parties represented in the legislature.
There should be a comprehensive awareness raising campaign targeted at the MP, representatives of the President's Office, Government, political parties and Ukrainian citizens overall, aimed at explaining the key elements of various electoral systems and their implications, both positive and negative.
контакти: info@ifesukraine.org