EU: Ukrainian nation has mandated government to conduct reforms
According to an initial appraisal, fundamental rights and freedoms were respected at the Ukrainian parliamentary elections, said EU Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Maja Kocijancic in a statement on Monday 22 July. The assessment of the elections was based on the appraisal of the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).
“Following the presidential elections in March and April, the Ukrainian people have once again given a strong mandate for reform,” Kocijancic emphasized, noting that the campaign was competitive and the electoral administration was “competent and effective”. However, the ODIHR did report vote-buying and “intertwined business and political interests” that affected media coverage of the elections. “It is important that the Ukrainian authorities address the shortcomings identified, on the basis of OSCE/ODIHR recommendations,” she stressed.
The EU supports a democratic, stable and prosperous Ukraine. “We look forward to continuing to advance our political association and economic integration and deliver on the reform process at the core of our Association Agreement, and closely cooperating to that end with the new Verkhovna Rada and the new government, once formed,” the EU foreign affairs spokesperson stated.
Ukraine held snap parliamentary elections on 21 July. With nearly 90% of the results counted, five parties will be represented in the Verkhovna Rada: President Volodymyr Zelensky’s “Servant of the People” party; Yuriy Boyko and Vadim Rabinovich’s “Opposition Platform-For Life” party, former president Petro Poroshenko’s “European Solidarity” party, former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko’s “All-Ukrainian Union Fatherland” party, and the Holos (“Voice”) party led by Okean Elzy’s lead singer, Svyatoslav Vakarchuk. The electoral commission recorded a 49.84% voter turnout.