Political Parties in Ukraine: Wartime Challenges and Post-War Perspectives : Needs Assessment Report
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Date
2023
Authors
Bohasheva, Nataliia
Boiko, Olena
Venher, Volodymyr
Doroshenko, Bohdana
Kliuchkovskiy, Yurii
Simon, Bertrand
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Council of Europe
Abstract
The full-scale military aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine has created extremely harsh conditions for democratic institutions in Ukraine. After all, active hostilities affect all areas of public life, and thus the activities of political parties have also been significantly affected and adjusted. Political activity in society is entirely conditioned by challenges resulting from the war. The activities of state authorities, local self-government bodies, public associations and businesses now largely depend on the course of hostilities and the scale of the damage caused. The needs of national security, defence, evacuation of residents affected by hostilities and humanitarian support of the population take first place. At the same time, the level of transparency and openness of the work of public authorities, even elected local councils, has been significantly affected. This impact substantially limits not only the possibility of a lively political struggle but also the need for it, because many decisions of public authorities are adopted by consensus and with maximum support from society. Under such conditions, political parties need to transform their significance in society and change the forms of their activity. The imposition of restrictions on the activities of pro-Russian political parties in Ukraine has also become essential in ensuring national security. The corresponding amendments to legislation have become the basis for initiating more than a dozen legal proceedings to ban certain political parties. Such decisions of the state will undoubtedly have an impact on the party landscape and political structuring of society in the post-war period. This report attempts to present a systematic analysis of such problems and the challenges exacerbated by the war. The considerations presented herein are based on a comprehensive consideration of international standards in the field of political parties, Ukrainian national legislation and the current state of affairs in Ukraine. The list of problems suggested by the authors and their analysis obviously require more in-depth and detailed research. At the same time, this report draws attention to the main threats to the democratic development of Ukraine seen through the prism of challenges to the activities of political parties in wartime conditions and the prospects of restoring their full functioning in the post-war period.
Description
Keywords
party activity during the war, activity of pro-Russian political parties, political pluralism, post-war life, Constitution of Ukraine, Law of Ukraine "On Political Parties in Ukraine", report
Citation
Political Parties in Ukraine: Wartime Challenges and Post-War Perspectives : Needs Assessment Report / Nataliia Bohasheva, Olena Boiko, Volodymyr Venher, Bohdana Doroshenko, Yurii Kliuchkovskiy ; with a contribution by the Council of Europe international expert: Bertrand Simon. - [S. l.] : Council of Europe, 2023. - 41 p.