Ukrainian parliamentary election, 1990

The first relatively freecite book|title=Ukraine: A History|author=Subtelny, Orest |publisher=University of Toronto Press|year=2000|id=ISBN 0-8020-8390-0|pages=p. 576] parliamentary election held in the Ukrainian SSR took place in several stages, during March 4-18, 1990. The elections were held to elect deputies to the republic's parliament, the Verkhovna Rada. Simultaneously, elections of local councils took place.

The Parliament declared the independence of Ukraine. Later on, this Parliament of Ukrainian SSR of 12th Convocation was recognized as the Parliament of Ukraine of the 1st Convocation.

History

In the wave of Gorbachev's perestroika, The "Law on Elections", adopted on October 27, 1989, included the provisions for the direct elections (as opposite to the representation of civil organizations), the need for alternative candidates, no requirement for nomination meetings, and other relatively democratic provisions. [cite web|url=http://www.parliament.org.ua/index.php?action=publication&id=8&ar_id=11&iar_id=316|title=Історія українських виборів (1990 р., 1994 р., 1998 р.)|language=Ukrainian] However, the elections were far from being free, as the Communist Party retained control on the media, exerted political influence, and had a large financial resources.

The elections took place according to the majoritarian electoral system in 450 electoral regions. The first round of elections took place on March 4, 1990. In election regions where none of candidates obtained at least 50% votes, the second round of elections took place on March 10-18.cite web|url=http://www-history.univer.kharkov.ua/e-library/kalinichenko_textbook/Kalinichenko_10.2.htm|title=КАЛІНІЧЕНКО В.В., РИБАЛКА І.К. ІСТОРІЯ УКРАЇНИ. ЧАСТИНА ІІІ: 1917-2003 рр.|language=Ukrainian] In two rounds of elections a total of 442 deputies were elected.

The first meeting of the Parliament took place on May 15, 1990. Among the elected deputies 381 were communists and they initially elected Volodymyr Ivashko to serve as the Chairman of the Parliament, but in one month he chose to move to Moscow for a position of a Deputy of the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. The Communist Party was rapidly losing popularity and by July 1990 only 239 communist deputies formed a majority group "For Soviet Sovereign Ukraine", informally known as "group 239".Subtelny, p. 577.] On July 18 this group led by Oleksander Moroz elected Leonid Kravchuk as the Chairman of Parliament. [cite web|url=http://www.day.kiev.ua/70182/|title=Технологія незалежності: уроки минулого століття. Доба Леоніда Кравчука|language=Ukrainian]

During the election campaign, the so called "Democratic Bloc" was formed, which included the People's Movement of Ukraine ("Rukh"), Helsinki Watch Committee of Ukraine, Party of Greens of Ukraine, and many other organizations. The block obtained 111 seats out of 442. In the parliament, the democratic deputies formed the "Narodna Rada" group, which consisted from 90 to 125 members. [cite web|url=http://www.kandydat.com.ua/politika/01_02.htm|title=Trends of independence: Elections in Ukraine|accessdate=2008-03-02|date=February 1, 2006|work=kandydat.com.ua|language=Ukrainian] Ihor Yukhnovskyi was the leader of the opposition group.

Shortly after the election, on July 16, 1990, the Parliament adopted the Declaration of State Sovereignty of Ukraine. The Declaration was supported by 355 deputies. In October 1990, the Parliament also amended the 1978 Constitution, in particular excluding Article 6. [Cite Ukrainian law|type=Verkhovna Rada law|number=404-XII|law=404-12|name=Amendments to the Constitution of Ukrainian SSR|date=1990-10-24] Prior to the amendments, the governing body of the Ukrainian SSR was the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Ukraine.

References