Ukrainian Parliament Speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn supports the need for elections to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine by open party lists and return to the majority system for elections to the local self-governments.

V. Lytvyn spoke for introduction of the appropriate amendments to the Constitution of Ukraine, while opening the parliamentary hearings on the issue: "Reforming the legislation of Ukraine on local elections taking into account interests of local communities” on May 12, 2010.

The Head of Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine stated that the deficiencies of the existing system of local elections is the root cause of all problems and difficulties that Ukraine is experiencing, especially given the fact that this system does not take into account the interests of local communities. Therefore, in his opinion, development of Ukraine and its future will depend on solving the existing problems of the local self-government.

He emphasized that the proportional election system of voting by the closed lists of candidates has destroyed the interconnection within the local community between the MP and voters, which became "deprived of effective means of influence on the MPs, who actually does not represent their interests in the corresponding council”.
 
"Introduction of the proportional election system for the local elections virtually prevents renewal of authority, while closed lists lead to the inclusion of people who have nothing to do with the local communities" - he stressed.

The Head of Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine emphasized that on the first constituent meeting of the Council of Regions, held on May 11, 2010 the need for civilized and open elections to the local self-governments and the necessity of ensuring the adequate material and financial base for their operation was discussed. "It was agreed that two draft documents will be sent to local authorities with the purpose of taking into account views and suggestions of exactly those, who directly live and work on the territory and accept these documents so that the budget of 2011 could be formed on the basis of normal civilized grounds"- he said. Therefore, suggestions and the fundamental vision of the system of organizing and conducting the local elections have to return back from the regions before August 1.

In the parliamentary hearings participated: Olena Lytvynenko, Program Manager of the Swiss Cooperation Office in Ukraine, Oksana Garnets, Senior Project Coordinator of the Swiss-Ukrainian Decentralization Support Project in Ukraine DESPRO and others.

According to the information from the press service of  Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine

More details on the Draft Law on Amendments to the Constitution of Ukraine (regarding the term of powers for Verkhovna Rada of Autonomous Republic of Crimea, local councils and village, township or city heads) can be found here:
http://gska2.rada.gov.ua/pls/zweb_n/webproc4_1?id=&pf3511=34696