Administrative reform in Ukraine: risks, elections, logistics

On July, 17, Verkhovna Rada has approved decree concerning reduction of administrative areas in Ukraine. Thus quantity of districts decreased in three times, from 490 to 136.

Parliament’s decree obliges Central electoral committee to hold elections in new made units.

“Deputies’ credentials in liquidated districts would be terminated. Central electoral commission has both to organize and hold local elections in accordance to newly created districts”, - says lawyer Maya Sergeeva.

Economical expert Mykhailo Krapivko considers that administrative-territorial reform consists of number of risks in branch of judgment.

“Distance from suburban settlements to the center of the district in some areas has increased on almost 100 kilometers. So logistics to local judgment institutions may be complicated by the lack of infrastructure. Moreover, it is not clear about financing of the public sector. Who is obliged to finance medicine, education, etc.? What is the scheme of budget separation? For now, I can say that economical expediency of such reform is rather doubtful”, - he says.

In accordance to the expert, Verkhovna Rada has neither discussed nor approved a number of bills called to structure the process of shift. Mykhailo Krapivko accents that absence of link laws makes a threat of non-financing of Ukrainian public sector.

“We may get legal vacuum without such laws. This will allow filling up budgets without possibility of its using. That’s why it is necessary to do some changes in some law projects. Otherwise deputies will not have credentials to manage money. As a result, there is a threat of absence of salaries for the public sector: education medicine, etc”, - expert says.

After implementation of Parliament’s decree, Government has 3 months to solve all issues concerning reorganization and succession for all branches of authority for new districts.