During martial law, the number of local councillors decreased in 34 communities in Ivano-Frankivsk region. As a result, it has become more difficult to reach decisions at council meetings, as there is often no quorum.

Yurii Stefanchuk, Executive Director of the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Office of the Association of Ukrainian Cities, commented on the situation to Suspilne.Ivano-Frankivsk.

‘This issue is particularly relevant for communities with a population of up to 15,000 people. There is no party affiliation there. If a councillor resigns, no one takes their place as elections cannot be held during wartime. The quota remains the same, but the number of councillors decreases,’ he explained

Obertyn community has a population of less than 10,000 and should have 22 councillors on its local council. However, only 12 currently attend sessions.

According to Mayor Viktor Khamut, some councillors have left the country, some are serving in the Armed Forces and several others have submitted their resignations. One reason for this is their refusal to declare their property status:

‘They are not willing to complete declarations and are reluctant to tell the truth. It is easier for a teacher or doctor to fill one out, but it is more challenging for an entrepreneur who owns a business, equipment, and property,’ says the community leader.

The Obertyn Settlement Council has appealed to the Ukrainian Parliament to amend Article 46 of the Law of Ukraine ‘On Local Self-Government in Ukraine’.

Specifically, the community has suggested that, during the period of martial law, a session should be considered valid if at least 45 per cent of council members are present at the session meeting.

For the Obertyn Settlement Council, this would mean that sessions could be held with as few as 10 council members present. This would allow the community to continue making important decisions during wartime.