New law on presidential elections comes into force

Holos Ukrainy, the Verkhovna Rada’s official newspaper, reported yesterday that Speaker Volodymyr Lyvtyn signed the new law on presidential elections into force. On August 21 the Rada overrode a presidential veto to pass the law with 325 votes in favor in the 450 seat parliament. One of the key points of the law is that it shortens the campaign period before elections from 120 days to 90 days, implying that the campaign for the January 17, 2010 elections will officially begin on October 19. It provides for political parties and blocs to nominate candidates until November 6, with the Central Elections Commission announcing the final list of candidates by November 13. The law also abolishes the requirement for candidates to collect 500,000 signatures of supporters, and takes away provisions for voting via absentee ballot. It has also been criticized for allowing changes to voting lists as late as the day of the election. President Viktor Yushchenko has claimed that the new law violates the constitution and has pledged to take the matter to the Constitutional Court. Brad Wells: As with several recent major political bills in Ukraine in recent memory, this one is arguably another example of one step forward – two steps back. On one hand, some of the provisions, such as shortening the campaign period, which in theory means that parliament and other political institutions might be able to get in another month of productive work, are relatively positive. However, the clauses that axe absentee ballots, allow for last-minute changes to the lists of eligible voters, and shorten the period allowed to file complaints in court following the election do raise red flags. It does look like Yushchenko will make good on his threat to go to the Constitutional Court, and if this dispute is not tied up quickly and decisively – it would give grounds for future legal battles over the election’s legitimacy, which would be another cause for concern considering that right now there is still a full four months to go until voters even get to the polls.