| President signs law on local elections |
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| Tuesday, 27 July 2010 11:14 |
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Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has signed into effect the law on local elections. This law introduces a mixed system, which combines both the proportional and the first-past-the-post systems, for elections to the Supreme Council of Crimea and regional and local councils. However, the constitutional right citizens to run for mayor and members of councils of various levels will be realised only through the local organizations of political parties that have been registered no later than a year before Election Day. This provision applies specifically to local organizations. Self-nominated candidates can run for village councils only. Local elections are scheduled for October 31. The parliamentary opposition has criticized the law, saying it was drafted to ensure the pro-presidential Party of Regions' grip on power across Ukraine and to prevent new players on the country's political scene from taking part in it. This evening Our Ukraine People’s self-Defence Bloc MP and former speaker Arseniy Yatseniuk said he will appeal against the law as, in his view, it prevents new political parties from being elected at local elections.
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