OREANDA-NEWS. On December 16, the website of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine published the text of a bill on decentralization of power in the country proposed by President Volodymyr Zelensky. The draft law “On Amendments to the Constitution of Ukraine (Regarding Decentralization of Power)” aims to update local self-government and organize the administrative-territorial structure in accordance with the requirements of the European Charter of Local Self-Government.

Changes are needed, because the current system has shortcomings that make it difficult to differentiate powers between local executive authorities and governments, in particular, the powers are duplicated, and it negatively affects budget and financial relations, the explanation says. Excessive centralization of power is also called among the shortcomings of the current system. This situation destabilizes the situation in the regions.

Zelensky proposes to introduce a new administrative division of Ukraine: community, district, region and the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. He also offers to establish a new position, a prefect, a representative of the state in the districts and regions, as well as in Kiev. Prefect’s task is to oversee compliance of activities of local authorities with the Constitution and laws of Ukraine. The prefect is to be appointed and dismissed by the president on the proposal of the government. The term of office of a prefect is three years.

It is noted that the bill does not contradict article 2 of the Constitution, which declares a unitary form of government in Ukraine. Decentralization does not mean “weakening of central authority in such matters as defense, foreign policy, national security, the rule of law, respect for human rights and freedoms,” the explanatory note says.