Zelenskyi signs law on referendum

The President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi signed the Law "On the All-Ukrainian Referendum" № 1135-IX.

The press service of the Office of the President reports.

Zelenskyi's Office stresses that this law "will increase the opportunities for citizens to participate in governing the state and significantly reduce tensions in society on complex issues."

"The President's goal in initiating the document was to provide society with a proper instrument of direct democracy that will work for decades and make government decisions that best meet the interests of Ukrainians," the President's Office said.

According to the law, the subject of an all-Ukrainian referendum may be the issue of amending sections I, III, XIII of the Constitution of Ukraine; issues of national importance; the issue of changing the territory of Ukraine, provided that the territorial integrity of our state is preserved, as well as the expiration of a particular law of Ukraine or some of its provisions.

Issues that contradict the provisions of the Constitution of Ukraine, universally recognized principles and norms of international law may not be the subject of an all-Ukrainian referendum; issues related to abolishing or restricting constitutional rights and freedoms of a human and citizen; issues aimed at eliminating the independence of Ukraine, violation of the state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, creating a threat to national security. Issues of taxes, budget, amnesty, as well as those managed by law enforcement agencies, the prosecutor's office, or the court may not be submitted to a referendum.

One issue may be put to an all-Ukrainian referendum. A referendum cannot be held at the same time as an election.

The law stipulates that a decision adopted in an all-Ukrainian referendum may be changed only by an all-Ukrainian referendum not earlier than three years from the date of its adoption. A new referendum on issues that were not previously supported in the all-Ukrainian referendum may be held not earlier than one year after the announcement of the results of the relevant all-Ukrainian referendum.

The referendum won't replace the work of the Verkhovna Rada on the adoption of laws, but citizens will receive an instrument of direct influence on decision-making in the state. The referendum will allow the people to speak the decisive word without the mediation of politicians, because of which many of them will lose their influence in society.

"Now Ukrainians will be involved in making important decisions for the country, and the government will be forced to listen to the will of the people," Volodymyr Zelenskyi said.

Depending on the issue, an all-Ukrainian referendum may be appointed by the President of Ukraine, the Verkhovna Rada, or declared by the Head of State on the people's initiative.

To recap, on January 26, the Verkhovna Rada supported the draft law on the all-Ukrainian referendum introduced by President Volodymyr Zelenskyi which provides a possibility of electronic voting. 255 people's deputies voted for the draft law.