National Democratic Institute pulls out of government’s election law committee

The National Democratic Institute, an international nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and strengthening democratic institutions, announced yesterday in a statement that it was suspending its participation in an election law working group chaired by Justice Minister Oleksandr Lavrynovych. NDI Eurasia Regional Director Laura Jewett said the working group’s decision making process closed out major opposition parties and nonpartisan civic groups. President Viktor Yanukovych initiated the working group in November 2010, following criticism that the October local elections fell short of democratic standards. Brad Wells: This is announcement further calls into question the Yanukovych administration’s broader true commitment to international democratic standards. In terms of the upcoming political agenda, we look at pension reform, due to be discussed by parliament this month, as the next big test of the government’s willingness to respond to criticism and take into account suggestions from international organizations, such as the International Monetary Fund, as well as the business community and opposition. Last year’s tax reform process sparked popular protests that gave the government a black eye and resulted in a presidential veto of legislation that was hammered through parliament without discussion. The most controversial sections of the tax code were ultimately rewritten.