For Ukraine’s small political parties even the 3 percent eligibility qualification to the Verkhovna Rada is an insurmountable obstacle, let alone 4 or 5 percent. There are more than a hundred small political structures in this country. Why so many? This is a multiparty system the Ukrainian way. Regardless of their number, the members and supporters of these small parties theoretically are vested with the same right to defend their interests in the highest legislative body as those of the political “titans.” Activists of these small parties also believe that the problem of the fullest possible representation of popular interests in parliament today is far more important than the current political leadership’s need to win the 2006 elections. How do such small parties feel about the prospect of raising the eligibility barrier? What do they think should be done to implement the rights of their voters?
Oleh SOSKIN, leader of the Ukrainian National Conservative Party:
Since we now have certain rules concerning the 3 percent barrier, even if they are bad, we have to play by them. Under no condition can we allow ourselves to return to the totalitarian system, when a single party had a monopoly over political power. We believe that raising this barrier will result in all branches of power in Ukraine being usurped by the ruling party, and that subsequently this will result in the destruction of democracy as such. All the small parties must unite so as to prevent the bigger parties from violating the existing rules of the game.
Oleksandr RZHAVSKY, leader of the All-Ukraine Association “United Family”:
In my opinion, the main task of our members of parliament is to fulfill the expectations of the active part of the electorate, regardless of their numerical strength. It is necessary to regulate the process of transferring votes from those on the losing side to those winning the elections, so that every voter can have a representative in the Verkhovna Rada, even if his candidate fails to pass the barrier. Political forces that fail to surmount the eligibility barrier must sign cooperation agreements with the parties in parliament, thus entrusting them with carrying out their electors’ mandates. Then the political forces in parliament will be under obligation to protect the interests of the entire electorate, rather than just their own. Today, in the absence of such a mechanism, the interests of several million citizens are ignored during every election campaign. If and when this barrier is made higher, their numbers will increase.
Andriy AZAROV, All-Ukrainian Party of Popular Confidence:
Year in and year out we’ve seen the same faces in power; this is proof that our political system has been privatized by a large group; we believe that new people, successful politicians, must be allowed to come to power. However, to do this we must have equal rights for all parties, regardless of numerical strength. Each and every party must have an opportunity to gain seats in parliament, provided it can collect at least 60,000 votes (the price of a VR seat). It’s also necessary to cancel the monetary pledge, which is humiliating for the smaller parties, and to prevent political forces in the Verkhovna Rada from usurping control over regional election committees.
Andriy MOSTYTSKY, Ukrainian People’s Party:
Under the circumstances, the chances of raising the eligibility barrier are practically nonexistent. The government has to resolve more important problems. This problem should be viewed from a different angle, by making it possible for smaller parties to participate adequately in the election process, so that they will be duly represented in the district election committees. By and large, we agree that there should be no eligibility barrier in a democratic country, and that all political forces should be represented in parliament.
