Open AccessUkraine: Significance of the Local Elections – 2020
Author(s) -
E. Tsedilina
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
rossiâ i novye gosudarstva evrazii
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2073-4786
DOI - 10.20542/2073-4786-2020-4-46-58
Subject(s) - opposition (politics) , politics , political economy , political science , solidarity , population , general election , electoral system , public administration , sociology , law , democracy , demography
The local elections held in Ukraine were far from being of local significance. They showed the real balance of political forces in the country: significant reduction in ranking of the “Servant of the People” and strengthening of the parliamentary opposition represented by the “Opposition Platform – For Life” and “European Solidarity”. These three parties each received approximately the same number of votes. This shows that the President’s political force has been unable to fulfill the role of a unifying center for the country. Ukraine has returned to a state of polarization, when the population votes for diametrically opposed political projects. However, despite the obvious loss of confidence of many voters, Zelensky’s party still retains a leading position. And what is especially important for the “Servant of the People”, as a result of the vote, it received representation at the local level thus making the President power vertical finally completed. The elections also showed a significant increase in the role of regional elites, who became the main winners of the vote. The strengthening of local authorities against the backdrop of a weakening center threatens to regionalize the country – splitting it not only politically, but also geographically.