Poroshenko insists on early parliamentary election on open-list proportional system
KYIV. Aug 1 (Interfax) - Early elections to the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada should be held on an open-list proportional representation system, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said.
"I have an absolutely firm conviction as to what law is optimal: this is a proportional system with open lists. What compromise the Verkhovna Rada will reach is so far open to question, because there is a week ahead, and we have agreed that the parliamentary commission and the presidential representative at the parliament will finalize the election system," Poroshenko said in an interview with Ukrainian TV channels on Friday.
At the same time, imperfect election law should not be used as a pretext for postponing the elections, he said.
"Ukraine doesn't' have time for talk. Therefore, if they can't agree on an open-list proportional system, let them run on a closed list system. If they can't agree at all, let them run in line with the law existing now, but elections will take place in any weather," Poroshenko said.
The mechanism of "early parliamentary elections has already been started," Poroshenko said, adding that he had agreed with the leaders of the Rada factions that early parliamentary elections "could be put forward."
It was reported on Thursday that Poroshenko, Verkhovna Rada Chairman Oleksandr Turchynov, and Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk had agreed with the leaders of parliamentary factions and groups that the Verkhovna Rada early election campaign's duration could be reduced to 45 from 60 days.
Rada Chairman Turchynov officially announced during the July 24 evening plenary session that the European Choice coalition ceased to exist. The Udar and Svoboda parliamentary factions and 19 unaffiliated parliamentarians had declared their withdrawal from the coalition during the July 24 morning session.
The coalition's dissolution and non-formation of a new one within 30 days would entitle the president to dissolve the Verkhovna Rada and call early parliamentary elections.
Speaking at the parliament recently, Poroshenko said early parliamentary elections "are a reality already."