19:44
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in its draft resolution on Ukraine has recommended that the election threshold be lowered and the prohibition on electoral blocs be removed from the electoral legislation before the next parliamentary elections.
The document is entitled “The functioning of democratic institutions in Ukraine” and will be put on vote at PACE on Thursday, January 26.
While welcoming the adoption of the parliamentary election law in Ukraine, the Assembly expressed regret that the recommendations of the Venice Commission about the adoption of a Unified Election Code and the introduction of a regional proportional system based on open lists have not been implemented.
The Assembly is concerned that the raising of the threshold for the proportional elections to 5%, combined with the prohibition on parties to form electoral blocs to run in the elections, will negatively affect the opportunities for new or smaller parties to enter parliament. It believes that these provisions may reduce pluralism and further increase polarization in the new parliament.
Therefore, PACE recommends that the threshold be lowered and the prohibition on electoral blocs be removed from the electoral legislation before the next parliamentary elections.
PACE regrets the continued inclusion in this law of provisions that limit the right to stand for election for anyone convicted of a crime, regardless of the severity of the crime committed, and requests that constitutional amendments be adopted promptly that would allow these provisions to be removed from the electoral legislation.
“The Assembly considers that the upcoming parliamentary elections will be a litmus test for Ukraine’s commitment to democratic principles. The Assembly is of the view that international observation of these elections will substantially contribute to their democratic conduct. It considers that the Assembly should contribute to the international election observation with a large delegation,” the document reads.
25.01.2012
Article source: http://www.interfax.com.ua/eng/main/92715/
January 26, 2012
