Whom will the authorities in Kyiv and Sevastopol serve, the people or the President?

The registration of candidates for the deputies of local councils began on February 12. The elections are scheduled to take place on the same day with the elections to the Ukrainian parliament, March 29. A number of candidates for the post of mayor also registered. This has caused anxiety among the authorities, who presently try to influence the elections using everything in their power. The conflict grew more acute sharper, when the President vetoed the law on special features of the elections in Kyiv and Sevastopol. The first parliamentary attempt to override the veto failed.

In response to the beginning of candidate registration for the post of city mayor, a Central Election Committee session was immediately called. The session adopted a decree, stating that since there is no corresponding law, the city mayor will be elected by the deputies of the future Kyiv city council. The Ministry of Justice posed a question whether the existence of the post of mayor is appropriate in Kyiv and Sevastopol, further fanning the flames. The Ministry is convinced that elections in these cities will lead to a further worsening of social and political confrontation, unless the status of the cities is defined. Such a declaration can only be seen as yet another attempt to influence public opinion and has no legal foundation. The ministry blamed Parliament for failing to pass the relevant laws. It would have been strange, if the accusation had not been announced.

The reaction by the candidates was just as quick. For instance, Rukh considers that the CEC position of CEC can be seen as "an attempt to prevent the direct elections of the city mayor in Kyiv and hand power over to bureaucrats." The party intends to file a suit against the CEC, but they can hardly count on the effectiveness of the judiciary.

The Council of Europe appealed to the President Kuchma, demanding "quick passage of laws on municipal elections in Kyiv and on Kyiv’s status, according to the European Charter on local self-government, so that Kyiv dwellers may use their democratic right to vote on March 29."

The President will again have to choose between his private and state interests: to give up power or Ukrainian membership in the Council of Europe.