On September 13, Verkhovna Rada voted on the dissolution of the Central Election Commission. This decision was supported by 341 MPs.
On September 13, at 11:10, Ukrainian Parliament started to consider the dissolution of the CEC. President's VRU representative Ruslan Stefanchuk announced in the Parliament Volodymyr Zelensky's proposal to dissolve the Central Election Commission. Then, Deputy Chairwoman of the Committee on State Building, Regional Policy and Local Self-Government Alina Zahoruiko presented the Committee's stand. We would like to remind that the Committee recommended the Parliament to support President Volodymyr Zelenskyi's motion to dissolve the Central Election Commission.
Representatives of factions took the floor. Olexandr Korniienko from the Servant of the People supported the decision of competent Committee. Artur Herasimov from European Solidarity urged not to support the decision, which he believes is politically motivated. He emphasized that 7-year term of the Commission's office, which does not coincide with the term of the President and Parliament, is called to make the CEC equidistant from any existing government. He also noted that it would be reasonable to invite CEC members to speak. Nestor Shufrych from the Opposition Platform - For Life called to support the CEC's dissolution. He also mentioned that their political structure had already called for the dissolution of the Commission. Serhii Rakhmanin from the Holos said the 7-year term of Commission's authority secures unbiased work of the Commission under any government. He also said that CEC members should have been invited. Aliona Shkrum from Batkivshchyna stated that public has low confidence in the CEC today. She also reminded that the country needs a new law on the Central Election Commission.
After the speeches, MPs started to vote. Voting results: 341 - for, 41 - against, 2 - abstained, 19 - did not vote. The decision was made. Votes "for" per factions and groups: Servant of the People - 244, Opposition Platform - For Life - 33, European Solidarity - 0, Batkivshchyna - 20, For the Future - 15, Holos - 0, non-faction MPs - 29 MPs. Votes "against": European Solidarity - 21, Holos - 20 MPs. Besides that, one MP from each the Servant of the People and "For the Future" Group abstained. Did not vote: Servant of the People - 2, Opposition Platform - For Life - 7, European Solidarity - 4, "For the Future" Group - 2, non-faction MPs - 4.
Afterwards, the Parliament started consideration of amendments to the Rules of Parliamentary Procedure. Ruslan Knyazevich from the European Solidarity began his speech with a proposal to applause the CEC members for their work and then began to speak on the draft law.
We would like to remind that on Wednesday, September 11, the Subcommittee on Election Matters of the Committee on State Building, Regional Policy and Local Self-Government had a meeting, where members of the subcommittee recommended the Committee to consider and support dissolution of the CEC on its meeting. The Committee's meeting was held at noon, where it was decided to recommend the Verkhovna Rada to consider and support President Volodymyr Zelensky's motion to dissolve the Central Election Commission. 15 members of the Committee voted in for this decision, 7 abstained, 1 voted against.