Electoral reform, which may include amending the electoral system, could contribute to the democratic process. As stated in Venice Commission and OSCE/ODIHR joint opinions, “the choice of an electoral system is the sovereign right of each state; however it should be decided and agreed upon through broad and open discussions in the parliament with the participation of all political forces”.[1] When the draft proposal was submitted for analysis, there had been no open debate with other political parties in the ruling coalition or in the opposition, and the document had not been shared with civil society.
[1] See, among many others: Joint Opinion on the Draft Amendments to the Laws on Election of People´s Deputies and on the Central Election Commission and on the Draft Law on Repeat Elections of Ukraine, CDL-AD(2013)016, para 16, and Joint Opinion on the Draft Law on Election of the People’s Deputies of Ukraine, CDL-AD(2011)037, para 22.
