OPORA SUGGESTS a candidate for new CEC member

Civil Network OPORA calls on the President of Ukraine, parliamentary factions and groups of MPs in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to follow the principles of professionalism and political impartiality, and avoid the conflict of interests when selecting candidates for members of the CEC. New CEC should become an independent and unbiased body and increase public trust to the election process. We are convinced that each candidate for member of the CEC should conduct public presentations and debates with other candidates. OPORA, for its part, recommends the President of Ukraine, parliamentary factions and groups of MPs to consider a well-known expert, researcher and MP of Ukraine of II convocation Volodymyr Kovtunets, who is highly experienced in electoral issues, as a candidate for CEC member.

Due to the fact that 12 of 15 members of the Central Election Commission have had their seven-year term of office expired, the public trust to this permanent collegial body, responsible for organization and conduct of elections at all levels, has radically decreased.

According to the Article 6 (8) of the Law of Ukraine on the Central Election Commission, commission members shall be appointed every seven years. Resolution of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on Appointment of the Central Election Commission Members, which concerns the majority of current CEC members, was passed by the Parliament on 1 June 2007 and, therefore, their term of office expired on 1 June 2014.

In order to secure stable organization of 2014 early presidential election, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has amended the Law of Ukraine on the Central Election Commission on 13 March 2014. As a result, authority of CEC members shall be now terminated on the basis of a decision passed by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine but not after the their term of office expire. At the same time, the Parliament, and the President didn't secure appointment of new CEC members after the early presidential election was held. Thus, current members of the CEC have been holding their offices for almost one year and a half longer term than is established by the Law.

The Law on Central Election Commission establishes a precise procedure for appointment of its members. Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine appoints and withdraws commission members upon request of the President of Ukraine with consideration of propositions from parliamentary factions and groups formed in the current convocation of the Parliament.

OPORA is convinced that parliamentary factions and groups of MPs in the Parliament should propose the CEC candidates as soon as possible, and the President of Ukraine should submit to the Parliament. Thus, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine should urgently appoint new members of the CEC soon after the second round results are determined for mayoral elections.

OPORA, for its part, recommends the President of Ukraine, parliamentary factions and groups of MPs to considera well-known expert, researcher and MP of Ukraine of II convocation Volodymyr Kovtunets, who is highly experienced in electoral issues, as a candidate for CEC member. Volodymyr Kovtunets has many years of experience in development of election laws, as well as preparation and realization of wide-scale training programs for election commission members. Besides that, he was always an example of professionalism, political impartiality and righteousness.