19/03/2014 16:51
People`s Deputy of Ukraine, the leader of the European Party of Ukraine Mykola Katerynchuk proposes to Parliament to adopt a draft law on mayor elections in two rounds. The relevant initiative was registered in Parliament on March 17, 2014 (p. number 1098 of 14/12/2012).
According to the revised text, the election of village, town and city (in the cities with a population less than 500,000 people) heads will be held by plurality (in one round), but the mayor elections in the cities with a population over 500,000 people will be held in two rounds (by the absolute majority). So if in the city with a population of over half a million people none of the candidates receives more than half of the votes, a second voting is appointed (so -called “second round”). It involves participating of two candidates with the biggest support, according to the first round.
The version of 14/12/2012 proposed to hold elections of city mayors in all cities under a majoritarian system of absolute majority. In other words, the draft law proposed to establish the next rule: a candidate would be acknowledged the elected mayor only if he receives more than a half of all votes. If none of the candidates receives more than a half of votes, the second round of elections is appointed.
“The first version of the draft law was revised for the rational and efficient use of budget funds and is based on the experience of other European countries, regarding the local elections and modern Ukrainian realities. The version of 17/03/2014 provides a majoritarian system of absolute majority only for mayor elections in large cities (with a population of over 500,000 people)”, – said the author of the draft law.
“Kyiv has the right to elect its Mayor under a system, which eliminates the possibility of bribery and fraud. The only possible way to ensure this process is elections in two rounds. This will allow the maximum number of voters to vote and get a mayor, supported by the absolute majority”, – said Mykola Katerynchuk.
Press Service
European Party of Ukraine