The problem of ensuring the rights to represent the common interests of the territorial communities in Ukraine in the context of changes in the electoral system

The article explores the problems of ensuring the rights to represent the common interests of the territorial communities in Ukraine in the context of changing the electoral system in the local elections. The practical results of the 2015 local elections in Ukraine in terms of representation in the regional and district councils are analyzed. A number of problems were identified, including: lack of representation in separate districts, lack of representation of the individual communities in the district and regional councils, which is inconsistent with Article 140 of the Constitution of Ukraine, where it is determined that the local self-government bodies representing the common interests of the territorial communities of the villages, towns and cities are the district and region councils. The authors note that such an electoral system of “open lists” of the Law of Ukraine “On Local Elections” is not capable of ensuring fair and equal representation of the territorial communities in the regional and district councils. The article states that in the context of the reform of the local self-government in Ukraine, approved by the order of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine “On Approval of the Concept of Reforming the Local Self-Government and Territorial Organization of Power in Ukraine” No. 333-r of April 1, 2014, the issues of proper representation of the common interests are of particular relevance to the territorial communities of villages, towns and cities in the district and regional councils. That is why it is important for the next local elections in the autumn of 2020 to solve two global tasks: to approve the new administrative-territorial structure and to change the rules of the electoral legislation in order to properly represent the common interests of the territorial communities.