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UKRAINE
Verkhovna Rada (Parliament)

This page contains the full text of the PARLINE database entry on the selected parliamentary chamber, with the exception of Oversight and Specialized bodies modules which, because of their excessive length, can be only viewed and printed separately.

Modules:
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE PARLIAMENTARY CHAMBER

Parliament name (generic / translated) Verkhovna Rada / Parliament
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Structure of parliament Unicameral
Affiliation to the IPU Yes
Affiliation date(s) 1999 -
LEADERSHIP
President Andriy Parubiy (M) 
Notes Elected on 14 Apr. 2016.
Secretary General Petro Bodnar (a.i.) (M) 
Notes 19 July 2016 -
COMPOSITION
Members (statutory / current number) 450 / 423
PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN


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Women (current number) 52 (12.29%)
Mode of designation directly elected 450
Term 5 years
Last renewal dates 26 October 2014
(View details)
CONTACT INFORMATION
Address Verkhovna Rada Ukrainy
M. Grushevskogo str., 5
01008 KIEV
(Export mailing lists)
Phone (380 44) 255 21 15
Fax (380 44) 253 32 17
E-mail vidmz@rada.gov.ua
Website
http://www.rada.gov.ua/
http://portal.rada.gov.ua/

ELECTORAL SYSTEM

Parliament name (generic / translated) Verkhovna Rada / Parliament
Structure of parliament Unicameral
LEGAL FRAMEWORK
Electoral law 17 November 2011
(came into force on 15 December 2011) Last amendment: 5 April 2012 (Constitutional Court decision)
Mode of designation directly elected 450
Constituencies - 225 single-member constituencies for the majority system
- one nationwide constituency for the proportional representation system
Voting system Mixed: - Majority system (First-past-the-post) for 225 seats
- Proportional representation system using closed party list for 225 seats. Parties must obtain a minimum of 5 per cent of the vote to gain parliamentary representation.
Voting is not compulsory.
Voter requirements - age: at least 18 years old on election day
- Ukrainian citizenship
- Ukrainians living and working overseas who are registered on the electoral list established by the Ukrainian diplomatic mission in their country of residence are entitled to vote.
- disqualifications: legally-declared insanity
CANDIDATES
Eligibility - qualified electors
- age: at least 21 years old on election day
- Ukrainian citizenship
- residence in Ukraine for at least five years prior to election
- ineligibilities: persons with an unexpunged criminal record related to a serious (intentional) crime
Incompatibilities - Members of Cabinet
- Chairpersons of central government agencies
- Holders of any elected office
- Civil servants
- Persons performing any remunerated activities other than parliamentary work (except for teaching, scientific and creative activities and the medical profession)
- Persons involved in pre-trial investigation, prosecution authorities and agents of the courts
- Executives and board members of companies or organizations
Candidacy requirements - Majority system: Candidacy by independents or political parties
- Proportional representation system: Nomination by a political party registered by the Ministry of Justice
- Candidatures must be submitted at least 75 days prior to election day
- A deposit equivalent to 2,000 minimum wages per party for the nation-wide constituency in the proportional system, 12 minimum wages per candidate for a constituency in the majority system (the minimum wage is set at 1102 UAH in July-October 2012)
- The deposit is reimbursed if the party/candidate wins parliamentary representation

LAST ELECTIONS

Parliament name (generic / translated) Verkhovna Rada / Parliament
Structure of parliament Unicameral
BACKGROUND
Dates of election / renewal (from/to) 26 October 2014
Timing and scope of renewal Pro-European parties won the elections, taking 288 seats in the 450 member parliament (see note). The Petro Poroshenko bloc of President Petro Poroshenko came in first with 132 seats. The People's Front of Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk followed with 82 seats. Lviv mayor Andriy Sadovyi's Self Reliance party (Samopomich), the Radical Party of Mr. Oleh Lyashko and the Fatherland party of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko took 33, 22 and 19 seats respectively. Mr. Yuriy Boyko's Opposition Bloc, which comprises members of former President Viktor Yanukovych's Party of Regions, took 29 seats, becoming the sole party in parliament with a close tie to the Russian Federation. The Communist Party failed to win parliamentary representation for the first time since Ukraine's independence in 1991.

The elections followed the Revolution of Dignity, which toppled President Viktor Yanukovych in February 2014. Subsequent presidential elections in May elected Mr. Poroshenko. The latter promised closer ties with European Union (EU), and signed an association agreement with the European Union in late June. However in July, the coalition government led by Prime Minister Yatsenyuk collapsed after two parties withdrew, calling for early parliamentary elections.

The 2014 parliamentary elections were held against the backdrop of crisis related to the situation in Crimea (which had been annexed by the Russian Federation) and in Donbas region (where separatist forces had set up two self-proclaimed pro-Russian states). During the election campaign, the President urged citizens to vote for a "united, indivisible and European Ukraine". The Petro Poroshenko bloc promised to continue its "Strategy 2020" to achieve membership of the EU by 2020 through economic recovery, job creation, decent wages and pensions and successful private enterprise. The Samopomich promised to bring about a new era of responsible government and an end to corruption and nepotism.

President Poroshenko called for a political settlement in the Donbas region while also promising to strengthen the army. Prime Minister Yatsenyuk's People's Front promised to work for a "strong, independent Ukraine" to defend itself against the "foreign enemy" and to carry out the comprehensive reforms needed to achieve European social standards. The Radical Party pledged to put an end to separatism. It also promised to achieve a "society of equal opportunities and universal well-being" through economic recovery, especially in the agriculture sector. The leader of Fatherland party, Ms. Tymoshenko - who had been released from prison after the Revolution of Dignity - insisted that Ukraine should join NATO, and promised to boost the defence industry so as to prevent Russia from "dismembering Ukraine". The Opposition Bloc pledged to "preserve Ukraine, protect its citizens, and restore peace on its land".

Note:
Due to the situation on the ground, elections could not be held in 15 constituencies in Donetsk and Luhansk in the Donbas region, and 12 single-seat constituencies in Crimea and Sevastopol.
Date of previous elections: 28 October 2012

Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature: 25 August 2014

Timing of election: Early elections

Expected date of next elections: October 2019

Number of seats at stake: 423 (full renewal)*
*Elections were not held in 15 constituencies of Donetsk and Luhansk and 12 single-seat constituencies in Crimea and Sevastopol.

Number of candidates: 6,436*
*3,114 for the proportional representation system and 3,322 candidates for the majority system.

Percentage of women candidates: Not available.

Number of parties contesting the election: 29

Number of parties winning seats: 11

Alternation of power: N/A*
*The composition of the government changed between elections.

Number of parties in government: 5

Names of parties in government: Petro Poroshenko bloc, People's Front, Samopomich (Self Reliance), Radical Party, All-Ukrainian Union Batkivshchyna (Fatherland party)

Date of the first session of the new parliament: 27 November 2014

Name of the new Speaker: Mr. Volodymyr Groisman (Petro Poroshenko bloc)
STATISTICS
Voter turnout
Round no 126 October 2014
Number of registered electors
Voters
Blank or invalid ballot papers
Valid votes
34'670'814
18'174'440 (52.42%)

Notes
Distribution of votes
Round no 1
Political group Candidates Votes % of votes
Petro Poroshenko bloc
People's Front
Opposition Bloc
Independents
Samopomich (Self Reliance)
Radical Party
Group "People's Will"
Group "Economic Development"
All-Ukrainian Union “Batkivshchyna” (Fatherland party)
Distribution of seats
Round no 1
Political Group Total of seats
Petro Poroshenko bloc 147
People's Front 83
Opposition Bloc 40
Independents 38
Samopomich (Self Reliance) 32
Radical Party 22
Group "People's Will" 20
Group "Economic Development" 19
All-Ukrainian Union “Batkivshchyna” (Fatherland party) 19
Distribution of seats according to sex
Men

Women

Percent of women
371

49

11.67%
Distribution of seats according to age
Distribution of seats according to profession
Comments
Sources:
Parliament (01.12.2014, 03.12.2014, 01.01.2015, 11.08.2015, 03.06.2016, 01.01.2017)
http://gapp.rada.gov.ua/radatransl/Home/Factions/en
http://www.electionguide.org/elections/id/2805/

Note on the distribution of seats according to political parties:
The numbers of seats won by each party mentioned in the text above is based on the election results.
After the elections, many independent candidates-elect joined other parties.
The distribution of seats above refers to the number of seats each parliamentary faction/group held at the first sitting of the legislature, held on 27 November 2014.

PRESIDENCY OF THE PARLIAMENTARY CHAMBER

Parliament name (generic / translated) Verkhovna Rada / Parliament
Structure of parliament Unicameral
APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE
Title Chairman of Parliament
Term - duration: 5 years (term of House)
- reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, death, dissolution of the Parliament
Appointment - elected by all Members of the Parliament
- the election is held during the first sitting of the newly elected Parliament
- after Members' mandates have been validated
Eligibility - anyMember may be a candidate
Voting system - formal vote by secret ballot
- one single round, requiring a two-thirds majority of the votes cast
Procedures / results - a Member elected at the start of the sitting presides over Parliament during the voting
- the Chairman of the Special Committee for Calculation supervises the voting
- the Chairman of the Special Committee for Calculation announces the results without delay
- the results cannot be challenged

STATUS
Status - represents the Parliament with the authorities
- represents the Parliament in international bodies
- in the absence of the President, one of the Vice-Presidents can assume his/her role and functions
Board - the Presidium is regulated by the Standing Orders
- consists of the President and the chairmen of committees and political groups, all of whom serve five-year terms
- meets once weekly
- constitutes a collegial presidency

Material facilities - allowance
- official car
- secretariat
- additional staff
- bodyguards

FUNCTIONS
Organization of parliamentary business - may submit proposals relating to the agenda to the Presidium
- organizes the debates and sets speaking time
- examines the admissibility of bills and amendments
- refers texts to a committee for study
- examines the admissibility of requests for setting up committees and/or committees of enquiry, proposes or decides on the setting-up of such committees with the agreement of the Presidium
Chairing of public sittings - can open, adjourn and lift sittings
- ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders
- makes announcements concerning the Parliament
- takes disciplinary measures in the event of disturbance, and lifts such measures
- establishes the list of speakers, gives and withdraws permission to speak
- establishes the order in which amendments are taken up and selects which amendments are to be debated
- calls for a vote, decides how it is to be carried out, verifies the voting procedure and cancels a vote in the event of irregularities
- checks the quorum
- authenticates the texts adopted and the records of debates
- interprets the rules or other regulations governing the life of the Parliament
- has discretionary power to give the floor outside the agenda and thus organizes impromptu debates with the agreement of the Presidium
Special powers - approves the budget of the Parliament
- recruits, assigns and promotes staff
- appoints the Secretary General
- organizes the services of the Parliament
- plays a specific role in supervising foreign affairs or defence matters
- is responsible for relations with foreign Parliaments
- is responsible for safety, and in this capacity, can call the police in the event of disturbance in the Parliament
Speaking and voting rights, other functions - takes the floor in legislative debates
- provides guidelines for interpreting or supplementing the text under discussion
- takes part in voting
- proposes bills or amendments
- intervenes in the parliamentary oversight procedure
- verifies the constitutionality of laws

PARLIAMENTARY MANDATE

Parliament name (generic / translated) Verkhovna Rada / Parliament
Structure of parliament Unicameral
NATURE
Nature of the mandate · Free representation (see also Art. 79 (3) of the Constitution of 28.06.1996)
Start of the mandate · When the MPs take the oath (Art. 79 (6) of the Constitution). Pro-cedure (Art. 79 of the Constitution).
Validation of mandates · No validation
End of the mandate · On the day when the legal term of the House ends - or on the day of early dissolution (Art. 81 (1) and 90 (1) of the Constitution) (for early dissolution, see Art. 90 (2) and (4) of the Constitution)
Can MPs resign? Yes · Of their own free will (Art. 81 (2), No. 1 of the Constitution)
· Procedure (Art. 81 (2), No. 1 and (3) of the Constitution)
· Authority competent to accept the resignation: the Parliament
Can MPs lose their mandate ? Yes (a) Definitive exclusion from Parliament by the latter:
- Verdict of guilt or decision of a court declaring the MP incompe-tent or missing (Art. 81 (2), No. 2 and 3 of the Constitution, Art. 3 (4) and (6) of the Law of Ukraine on the Election of the People's Deputies of Ukraine)
- Loss of eligibility (Art. 81 (2), No. 4 of the Constitution, Art. 3 (5) of the Law of Ukraine on the Election of the People's Deputies of Ukraine)
- Death (Art. 81 (2), No. 5 of the Constitution)
- General procedure (Art. 81 (3) of the Constitution)
(b) Loss of mandate by judicial decision: incompatibilities (Art. 8 (2), and 81 (4) of the Constitution, Art. 3 (8) of the Law of Ukraine on the Election of the People's Deputies of Ukraine)
(c) Refusal to take the oath (Art. 79 (5) of the Constitution, see also Start of the mandate)
STATUS OF MEMBERS
Rank in hierarchy · Within Parliament:
1. The President
2. The First Vice-President
3. The Vice-President
4. The Chairpersons of the committees
Indemnities, facilities and services · Diplomatic passport (Art. 34 (5) of the Law of Ukraine on the Status of the People's Deputy of Ukraine)
· Basic salary (Art. 33 (1) of the Law of Ukraine on the Status of the People's Deputy of Ukraine): + Additional allowance:
· No exemption from tax (Resolution of the Parliament N 256/94 of 29.11.1994)
· Pension scheme (Art. 32 (16), (17) and (20) of the Law of Ukraine on the Status of the People's Deputy of Ukraine)
· Other facilities:
(a) Assistants (Art. 35 (1) and (2) of the Law of Ukraine on the Status of the People's Deputy of Ukraine, Resolution on the Assis-tant-Adviser of the People's Deputy of Ukraine): up to ten assis-tant-advisers + assistants working on a public (non-payment) basis
(b) Travel and transport (Art. 34 (3) and (4), and 39 (1) and (2) of the Law of Ukraine on the Status of the People's Deputy of Ukraine)
Obligation to declare personal assets No
Parliamentary immunity - parliamentary non-accountability · The concept does exist (Art. 80 (1) and (2) of the Constitution).
· Parliamentary non-accountability is limited to words spoken or written by MPs and votes cast within Parliament.
· Derogations: insult or defamation (Art. 80 (2) of the Constitution); offence or insult (Art. 4.1.9. of the Rules of Procedure of the Par-liament of Ukraine, see Discipline)
· Non-accountability takes effect (on the day when the mandate be-gins) and offers (. It does not offer), after the expiry of the man-date, protection against prosecution for opinions expressed during the exercise of the mandate.
Parliamentary immunity - parliamentary inviolability · The concept does exist (Art. 80 (1) and (3) of the Constitution, Art. 27 of the Law of Ukraine on the Status of the People's Deputy of Ukraine). But see Loss of mandate.
· It applies only to criminal proceedings, covers all offences and protects MPs from arrest and from being held in preventive cus-tody, from the opening of judicial proceedings against them and from their homes being searched.
· No derogations are foreseen.
· Parliamentary inviolability does not prevent MPs from being called as witnesses before a judge or tribunal.
· Protection is provided for the period of elections (Art. 27 (4) of the Law of Ukraine on the Election of the People's Deputies of Ukraine) and from the start to the end of the mandate (Art. 26 of the Law of Ukraine on the Status of the People's Deputy of Ukraine). It does not cover judicial proceedings instituted against MPs before their election (Art. 76 (3) of the Constitution, Art. 27 (4) of the Law of Ukraine on the Election of the People's Deputies of Ukraine).
· Parliamentary immunity (inviolability) can be lifted (Art. 80 (3) of the Constitution):
- Competent authority: the Parliament
- Procedure (Art. 91 of the Constitution): motivated decision by the majority of the constitutional composition. In this case, MPs can be heard (Art. 28 (5) of the Law of Ukraine on the Status of the Peo-ple's Deputy of Ukraine). They do have means of appeal (Art. 28 (3) of the Law of Ukraine on the Status of the People's Deputy of Ukraine).
· Parliament cannot subject the prosecution and/or detention to cer-tain conditions.
· Parliament cannot suspend the prosecution and/or detention of one of its members.
· In the event of preventive custody or imprisonment, the MPs con-cerned cannot be authorised to attend sittings of Parliament.
EXERCISE OF THE MANDATE
Training · There is no training/initiation process on parliamentary practices and procedures for MPs. Nor is there a handbook of parliamentary procedure.
Participation in the work of the Parliament · It is compulsory for MPs to be present at plenary sittings and committee meetings (Art. 16 of the Law of Ukraine on the Status of the People's Deputy of Ukraine).
· Penalties foreseen in case of failure to fulfil this obligation:
- Exclusion from the Committee or Special Commission (Art. 17 (2) of the Law of Ukraine on the Status of the People's Deputy of Ukraine)
- Reduction of salary (Art. 17 (3) and 34 of the Law of Ukraine on the Status of the People's Deputy of Ukraine)
- Publication in newspapers of Parliament and of local authorities in whose territory the constituency of the Deputy concerned is situ-ated (Art. 17 (4) of the Law of Ukraine on the Status of the People's Deputy of Ukraine)
· Body competent to judge such cases/to impose penalties:
Discipline · The rules governing discipline within Parliament are contained in S. 3.8. and Art. 4.1.9. of the Rules of Procedure of the Parliament of Ukraine.
· Disciplinary measures foreseen (Art. 3.8.4. of the Rules of Proce-dure of the Parliament of Ukraine):
- Call to order
- Order to withdraw
- Suspension
· Specific cases:
- Offence or insult (Art. 4.1.9. of the Rules of Procedure of the Parliament of Ukraine): call to order, strict call to order following the promulgation in the newspaper "The Voice of Ukraine"
· Competent body to judge such cases/to impose penalties:
- Call to order: the President
- Order to withdraw: the President, after decision of the Parliament
- Suspension: the Parliament
- Offence or insult:
· Procedure (S. 3.8. and Art. 4.1.9. of the Rules of Procedure of the Parliament of Ukraine)
Code (rules) of conduct · This concept does not exist in the country's juridical system but there are some relevant provisions (Art. 8 (2), and 81 (4) of the Constitution, Art. 3 (8) of the Law of Ukraine on the Election of the People's Deputies of Ukraine, Art. 6 (1) of the Law of Ukraine on the Status of the People's Deputy of Ukraine, Art. 4.1.9. (1) of the Rules of Procedure of the Parliament of Ukraine).
· Penalties foreseen for violation of the rules of conduct:
- Loss of mandate (Art. 8 (2), and 81 (4) of the Constitution, Art. 3 (8) of the Law of Ukraine on the Election of the People's Deputies of Ukraine; incompatibilities)
- Other penalties (Art. 6 (1) of the Law of Ukraine on the Status of the People's Deputy of Ukraine; violation of parliamentary ethics)
· Competent body to judge such cases/to impose penalties:
- Loss of mandate:
- Other penalties: the Parliament, on recommendation of the Com-mittee on the Mandate and Ethics of Deputies
· Procedure:
- Loss of mandate:
In this case, MPs have (no) means of recourse.
- Other penalties (Art. 4.1.9. (1) of the Rules of Procedure of the Parliament of Ukraine): decision, after brief discussion, by the ma-jority of MPs, recorded in the Minutes.
Relations between MPs and pressure group · There are no legal provisions in this field.

This page was last updated on 7 February 2017
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