Before 2014, Ukraine had the “winner-takes-all” highly centralized political system with dualism of executive branch and unclear division of responsibilities at the local level. The decentralization reform ongoing since 2014 is aimed at reducing the significance of the national government and shifting responsibility for everyday issues to locally elected officials. This should induce more responsible behaviour not only of local officials but also of citizens and thus foster democratic development in Ukraine. However, without solving the problems embedded into the Constitution, the political system reform will be incomplete.
Reform Watch
VoxUkraine: Does Ukraine need makeover in political system?
A man casts his vote at a polling station during Ukraine's parliamentary election in Boyarka in Kyiv oblast on July 21, 2019.
