Historic changes in Ukraine’s Parliament: Larger share of women, single-party majority, and the end of multiple voting practice

Parliament of Ukraine’s Ninth session has marked a series of unprecedented developments in the country’s parliamentary history, according to a new analysis by the CHESNO Movement. The findings were unveiled during a presentation at Media Center Ukraine, shedding light on key transformations over the past five years.

Among the unique aspects highlighted were the challenges of operating during the coronavirus pandemic and a fall-out invasion, the lifting of parliamentary immunity, and restrictions on journalists’ access. However, this parliament also stands out for its demographic and structural shifts, including the youngest cohort of lawmakers, an increased representation of women, the establishment of Ukraine’s first one-party majority government, and the eradication of ‘piano voting,’ [a practice that led to incidents of multiple votes being cast by a single legislator despite the existing obligation to vote individually – Ed].

Analysts noted that during the session’s term, 454 members of parliament served in total, including those who lost their mandates. Of these, 96 (21%) were women—an all-time high for the Verkhovna Rada.

“Indeed, this convocation of the Verkhovna Rada has been remarkable in many ways: the youngest parliamentary composition, the highest number of women MPs, and, of course, the historic formation of a mono-coalition,” said Sofiia Lazarova, an analyst at the CHESNO Movement.

Oleksandr Salizhenko, CHESNO’s editor-in-chief, elaborated on the significance of the mono-coalition, describing it as a milestone for Ukrainian political science and parliamentary practice.

“For the first time, we’ve seen the emergence of a mono-coalition in Ukraine’s parliamentary system. Formally, it still exists, which is unique in itself, as previous coalitions from earlier convocations did not endure as long. While there’s room for debate about whether it still functions in practice, formally, it remains intact,” Salizhenko explained.

Salizhenko also highlighted another major development: the disappearance of button-pushing [multi-voting – Ed.], a practice that CHESNO had documented for years. 

Ukraine’s Ninth Parliament has undoubtedly left a lasting imprint on Ukraine’s legislative landscape, underscoring both progress and adaptation in the face of unprecedented challenges.

For a detailed breakdown of the study’s findings, follow the link for more information.

Read more: https://mediacenter.org.ua/news