Amidst the ongoing martial law, the issue of stability in the functioning of local self-government bodies has become critically important. The Union of Cities of Ukraine (UCA) has sent an official appeal to the Verkhovna Rada, expressing serious concern regarding Draft Law No. 14405 "On Ensuring the Powers of Local Councils under Martial Law." Experts from the association believe that the proposed changes could lead to the mass dismissal of community heads and violate the principles of decentralization.

Mechanism for Simplified Dismissal

The essence of the draft law lies in lowering the requirements for the number of votes of local council deputies needed for the early dismissal or change of powers of the heads of basic-level communities. The Union of Cities of Ukraine emphasizes that this provision applies to all councils, not only those formed under the majority system of relative majority. This significantly simplifies the procedure for removing heads from office, making their position extremely vulnerable to political intrigue or pressure.

Statistics of Powerlessness

According to data cited in the UCA appeal, at the moment, 321 municipalities in Ukraine are already operating without a legally elected head. The association believes that the adoption of Draft Law No. 14405 in its current wording will exacerbate this situation, creating precedents for the loss of powers of local councils even before the results of post-war elections are established. This creates a risk of a prolonged period of administrative uncertainty for tens of thousands of residents.

UCA Proposal: Return to 2022 Practice

As an alternative, the Union of Cities of Ukraine proposes to transfer powers to the executive committee of the community and/or the village, settlement, or city head, as was the case in 2022. According to UCA experts, this approach will allow for the preservation of management continuity and ensure the functioning of local self-government bodies without the risk of their de facto liquidation.

Contradictory Data

There is a discrepancy in the assessment of the situation between legislators and representatives of local self-government. On the one hand, the authors of the draft law likely aim to ensure the operational replacement of leadership in conditions where current heads may be ineffective or unable to perform their duties. On the other hand, the UCA asserts that in practice, heads of local communities are dismissed from their duties on fabricated grounds, in violation of legislation, which indicates systematic pressure on local self-government bodies.

Consequences for Decentralization

The Union of Cities of Ukraine warns that simplifying the procedure for dismissing community heads could undermine trust in the decentralization system and create precedents of administrative arbitrariness. Under martial law, when local self-government plays a key role in ensuring the livelihood of the population, any legislative changes must be thoroughly worked out and take into account the interests of all parties.