Stefanchuk hopes parliament will reduce number of MPs to 300

First Vice Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk has said he hopes that the Verkhovna Rada in 2021 will support amendments to the Constitution of Ukraine to reduce the number of MPs from 450 to 300.

He stated this while presenting a plan of the parliament's draft laws for 2021 in a video address on the Telegram channel of the Servant of the People party.

"Almost all political parties promised [to support a reduction in the number of MPs] and I very much hope that [this proposal] will find support," Stefanchuk said.

According to Stefanchuk, in 2021 the parliamentarians also intend, among other things, to consider a number of amendments to the Constitution regarding decentralization. He confirmed that lawmakers would also consider the bill on democracy in the near future and added that after its adoption the bill on the local referendum would be registered.

In addition, a package of bills on the reintegration of the temporarily occupied territories and European integration initiatives could be put on the agenda.

In 2021, according to Stefanchuk, parliamentarians will continue to reform the judiciary and law enforcement agencies. The issue concerns "the reboot of the High Council of Justice, the High Qualifications Commission of Judges, and the introduction of justices of the peace."

Stefanchuk also confirmed that in 2021 it is planned to consider a bill on the funded pension system.

The Verkhovna Rada committee on legal policy earlier recommended that the parliament pass a presidential bill of constitutional amendments proposing to reduce the number of MPs from 450 to 300. The initiative requires the support of at least 300 lawmakers.

op