Meeting Of ZNU Political Science Club

Future election campaign, which is approaching its competion phase, was the main point for discussion. March 26, when citizens of Ukraine have to make an important political choice, is just around the corner. Vadym Karasyov stressed that the campaign will be over only after formation of parliamentary coalition. These are the first ever elections that will be held on the basis of proportional electoral system. The Parliament won’t have mixed system, when half of deputies were elected by party registers and the rest – by majority registers, any more. 

This time all the deputies are included into party registers. Under new Constitution, imperative mandate is introduced, according to which deputies won’t be able to leave one faction for another. Vadym Karasyov explained that political parties will become the main political power in Ukraine, like in all European multi-party democracies. Ukrainian parties are built from above (only a few - from below), which makes the role of political leaders – both shadow and evident sponsors – more important in the new Parliament.

The fact that elections are held by party registers distinguishes another technological approach. That’s not the work of individual majority deputies in electoral districts, but the work of party ideologies (when they are present), party brands, reputations of party leaders (if they are of leader-based type). 

Another peculiarity of current election campaign, pointed out by Vadym Karasyov, lies in the fact that not only the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine will be formed, but Government and Cabinet of Ministers too – indirectly. In European democracies parliamentary elections are in fact the elections of political forces that will rule the country and will be obliged to prove their abilities by concrete actions. That is why next time not just party brands or names, but experienced parties that were able to cope with their aims will be elected.

The third peculiar feature is as follows: as none of political forces, that will come for sure to the Parliament, will be able to form one-party majority, the Government will be either coalitional or won’t be at all. President has the right to dissolve the Parliament and appoint new elections if one-party majority is not formed in 30 days. That is why political forces consider today whom and under what conditions to create coalitions with, and are already forming different coalitional unities. 

The results of these elections are unpredictable today, and the political scientist regards it to be a positive signal. In the end of the meeting Vadym Karasyov answered students’ questions about gas conflict, statuses of Russian and Ukrainian languages etc.