Kiev. Ukraine. Ukraine Gate – January 29, 2021 – Local News
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky hopes that the number of people’s deputies in the Verkhovna Rada will be reduced to 300 people and says that the law is “in line.” He announced this in a video message.
“I believe that in our parliament there will be as few as possible (who quickly change their opinion on bills – ed.) Deputies, such cases, and in general that there will be fewer deputies. Not 450, but 300. This law, by the way, is in line We also promised this and must fulfill this. By the way, for the deputies to become 300, 300 votes are needed. I wonder who will join the Servant of the People faction to make this decision possible, “Zelensky said.
The President believes that this bill should be supported by all factions.
The Committee of the Verkhovna Rada on legal policy on January 14 recommended to the parliament to adopt as a whole bill No. 1017 on reducing the constitutional composition of the Verkhovna Rada from 450 to 300 people’s deputies.
In the fall of 2020, in the poll “5 Questions from the President,” Ukrainians were already asked how they feel about the idea of reducing the number of people’s deputies to 300 people. According to preliminary data, 90% of respondents supported the reduction (the final results of this survey were not made public).
Bill No. 1017 was adopted by the Rada as a basis on February 4, 2020. Then 236 deputies voted in favor. For its adoption in general, at least 300 votes are needed, since the bill introduces amendments to the Constitution.
But the bill not only reduces the number of deputies but introduces a provision in the Constitution that elections to the Rada are held only on a proportional basis, that is, according to party lists. Half of the current parliament members have been elected by majority constituencies.