"The Constitutional Court of Ukraine may influence the electoral process only by exercising constitutional control over acts related to this process", noted Natalia Shaptala

"The Constitutional Court of Ukraine may influence the electoral process only by exercising constitutional control over acts related

to this process", noted Natalia Shaptala

 

The Chairman of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine Natalia Shaptala held a meeting with the Head of the Ukrainian World Congress International Observation Mission to Ukraine’s 2019 Elections Eugene Czolij at the Constitutional Court of Ukraine.

The Chairman of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine Natalia Shaptala emphasised that the Ukrainian World Congress International Observation Mission to Ukraine’s 2019 Elections has done a great deal of work in order to make the elections in Ukraine fair and transparent.

Natalia Shaptala stressed that the Constitutional Court of Ukraine is not the subject of the electoral process, but it does not stand aside these issues. "The Constitutional Court is not a subject of the electoral process and may influence the electoral process only by exercising constitutional control over acts related to this process," she added. In this context, Natalia Shaptala elaborated on the Decision of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine in the case upon the constitutional petition of 62 People’s Deputies of Ukraine regarding conformity to the Constitution of Ukraine (constitutionality) of the Decree of the President of Ukraine "On Early Termination of Powers of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and the Appointment of Early Elections".

The Head of the Ukrainian World Congress International Observation Mission to Ukraine’s 2019 Elections Eugene Czolij welcomed Natalia Shaptala on her appointment as Chairman of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine and noted that the Chairman of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine not only exercised her honourable authority to swear the newly elected President of Ukraine, but did much more, especially in the context of the election process. "It was for your chairmanship that the Decision of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine in the case upon the constitutional petition of 62 People’s Deputies of Ukraine regarding conformity to the Constitution of Ukraine (constitutionality) of the Decree of the President of Ukraine "On Early Termination of Powers of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and the Appointment of Early Elections" was adopted”, he added.

Eugene Czolij dwelt upon the Ukrainian World Congress International Observation Mission to Ukraine’s 2019 Elections, noting that the Mission began its work immediately after the adoption by the Constitutional Court of Ukraine of the Decision in the case upon the constitutional petition of 62 People’s Deputies of Ukraine regarding conformity to the Constitution of Ukraine (constitutionality) of the Decree of the President of Ukraine "On Early Termination of Powers of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and the Appointment of Early Elections". "We actually had a month to organise the Mission," he added. According to him, the Mission is currently composed of 143 short-term observers from 28 countries of the world, as well as 125 long-term observers working not only in Ukraine but also abroad.

The Head of Mission pointed out that the unique nature of the Ukrainian World Congress International Observation Mission to Ukraine’s 2019 Elections is that long-term observers work in 30 countries of the world, providing for the media monitoring in 20 languages, in particular, in terms of revealing misinformation about the electoral process in Ukraine.

Eugene Czolij drew particular attention to the Decision of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine in the case upon the constitutional petition of 62 People’s Deputies of Ukraine regarding conformity to the Constitution of Ukraine (constitutionality) of the Decree of the President of Ukraine "On Early Termination of Powers of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and the Appointment of Early Elections", stressing that the Constitutional Court of Ukraine had played an extraordinary role in the 2019 parliamentary elections. "We understand that the process of adopting this decision was extremely difficult, because the attention of the entire Ukrainian and international community was focused on the consideration of this case," he said.

During the meeting, the interlocutors also discussed other topical issues, including the issue of strengthening confidence in the courts in Ukraine, and expressed their hope for further fruitful cooperation.