Ukrainian president signs Electoral Code

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has signed the Electoral Code sent to him by Verkhovna Rada Chairman Dmytro Razumkov, according to the website of the Ukrainian parliament.

The head of state signed the document on December 27.

The Verkhovna Rada on December 19 re-considered and approved a new Electoral Code with proposals from the president. A total of 330 MPs supported a respective decision.

The updated Electoral Code was approved by the Verkhovna Rada of the eighth convocation on July 11, 2019. It envisages the introduction of a proportional electoral system with open party lists in the elections of people's deputies, as well as a change of the electoral system in local elections.

On August 27, then Verkhovna Rada Chairman Andriy Parubiy signed a new Electoral Code.

However, on September 13, President Zelensky vetoed the document, arguing that the code contained provisions not complying with the Constitution, did not take into account the latest amendments to the electoral legislation, did not comply with basic legislative acts in the relevant field, and did not envisage the proper regulation and organization of the election process, effective control over the implementation of election procedures.

Subsequently, the head of state tabled in the Verkhovna Rada his proposals to the Electoral Code.

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