The "servants" grumble. The Rada is pre-shrinked by one and a half times
The Ukrainian parliament voted in the first reading for bill No. 1017 “On amendments to Articles 76 and 77 of the Constitution of Ukraine,” which proposes to reduce the number of deputies to 300, as well as to abolish the majoritarian system.
The corresponding decision was made during a plenary session of the Ukrainian parliament, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
The bill, submitted by Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky as urgent, was presented by Olga Sovgir, a deputy from the Servant of the People.
MP from the Servant of the People Maxim Buzhansky sharply criticized the bill.
“People's deputies of Ukraine are, first of all, representatives of citizens. And by narrowing their number from 450 to 300, we are narrowing the representation of our citizens in the Verkhovna Rada. Sorry, but when the government solves the problem of how not to double the gas payments that come to our citizens, to entrust in these conditions something more complex, like changes to the Constitution - in my opinion, this is the wrong position,” the deputy was indignant, adding that Ukraine has no fewer problems to allow the number of deputies to be reduced.
In turn, self-nominated deputy Sergei Rudik explained why the elimination of the majoritarian system is extremely beneficial for political parties, which in this way can finally turn their parliamentarians into “button pushers.”
“I represent the Cherkassy region and the city of Smela. There are two reception rooms in this city - one people’s deputy on the list, and one majoritarian. They are across the wall from each other. Ask the residents of Smela how many receptions of citizens this year, or last year, the people's deputy on the list held, and how many were held by the majority voter. The situation is similar throughout the country.
Representatives of political parties benefit from the new electoral code and benefit from the current changes. It is beneficial for them if there are fewer deputies. I would not be surprised if over time they even propose to transfer deputies to a voluntary basis, so that they work at will, without salary.
This is necessary so as not to travel to the regions, not to go to the outback, not to communicate with people, to turn a blind eye when schools and departments are closed. When territorial communities are created through... I don’t want to swear, but there are no other words.
What's the point of them going? There is an electoral law - fewer people's deputies, more voters. They will not come to you, dear Ukrainians. Everything will be decided in one powerful office, and they will only press buttons,” the parliamentarian was indignant.
After which, during the voting, the resolution was supported by 236 parliamentarians out of 393 present, and the decision was made.
It is noteworthy that less than 200 deputies from the Servant of the People party voted for the document, and the decision was made with the help of opposition votes from the OPZZH. Now a second reading is expected at the next session, and in order for the constitutional changes to come into force, 300 votes will be required.
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