On 5 February, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has published an updated list of candidates for members of the CEC. Although the number of candidates is the same – 14 persons for 13 vacant seats – some names have changed.

Andrii Parubii has informed on his Facebook page: “The President of Ukraine has just submitted the list of candidates for members of the Central Election Commission to the Parliament. I gave an immediate order to send all the documents of CEC candidates for verification. To eliminate any plots concerning the list of candidates, I publish the text of submission.”

It should be mentioned that instead of Nadiia Synytsia, whose nomination was not certain, a representative of AUU Batkivshchyna Andrii Yevstihnieiev has appeared on the list. The Opposition Bloc faction still does not have a representation among official candidates.

We remind that 13 of 15 members of the CEC have had their term of office expired. Although Petro Poroshenko had submitted the documents for withdrawal of 12 of 15 members of the CEC on 3 June 2016 and appointment of 11 new members, the Parliament hasn't voted on it yet. On 23 January 2018, the President of Ukraine has signed a submission for appointment of new CEC members. OPORA welcomed in its statement the end of political consultations between the President of Ukraine, parliamentary factions and groups of MPs concerning the candidates and the progress in rotation process. However, the organization has also stated it regrets that political subjects have failed to compromise during previous consultations concerning formation of a politically balanced membership of the CEC representing each parliamentary faction or group without an exception. International partners and factions “AUU Batkivshchyna” and “Opposition Bloc” have also informed about their concerns regarding non-inclusive representation of factions among the CEC candidates.

Civil Network OPORA has prepared a material about all the candidates for members of the Central Election Commission, and a timeline about discussion of CEC rotations for the last three years.