Author: Taras Baranetskyi, acting director of Lviv LGDC, for Dyvys.info

On 14 July 2015, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted the draft law "On Local Elections" in the second reading and on the whole. One of the peculiarities of the new "rules" of local elections was the so-called system of "party majority", when the elections of deputies of oblast, rayon and city councils are carried out according to the proportional electoral system in the multi-mandate constituency by the electoral lists of local organisations of political parties with fixing of candidates in territorial constituencies. Under such a system, several deputies may be elected in one constituency, while the winner in the constituency does not always pass the party's competition. Thus, often constituencies are not represented.

Instead of conclusions

In my opinion, the first elections should take place under a pure majority system, so that each territory knows their representative "by sight". This would avoid many myths and abuses, as well as reduce the degree of political confrontation.

Despite numerous myths, the results of elections to urban AHs show that, with the current electoral system, the rural areas get the opportunity to form an additional representation among the deputy corps, which together with the effective work of starostas should ensure their development and make it impossible to concentrate significant resources in the city.

So how can villages "capture" the city? There are several logical steps (in my opinion):

1. Insist on formation of the largest urban AH. The Perspective plan of the Lviv Oblast envisages this very format for AH establishment. At the same time, it is important to understand that the "wide" AH format is needed primarily for villages.
2. Delegate reputable fellow villagers to the electoral list of political parties. The results of elections to the urban AH show that there should be no more than two delegates in one constituency.
3. Come on election day and support your candidate.
4. Before the end of the tenure, CONTROL your elect (elects). This point is the most important.

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