Yushchenko: second thoughts about second term?

November03200922:42

Pres Yushchenko has tabled a bill whereby UAH2.5-million deposits by presidential candidates will be repaid to them if they garner 7% of the vote in the first round or if their registration has been cancelled by the Central Election Commission.

Under the current law, registration deposits are repaid to candidates who gather 7 percent of the vote. If less, deposits are to be transferred to state coffers.

Deposits are returned only to those presidential candidates who have made it into the runoffs.

Analysts say the reason Yushchenko has filed the bill is that several individuals have contested in courts all over Ukraine Yushchenko’s right to run for president. If their claims are upheld by courts, CEC will be forced to cancel Viktor Yushchenko’s registration.

Pres Yushchenko has paid his UAH2.5 million deposit when he applied for registration last week. As any presidential candidate, he also submitted his declaration. According to it, Yushchenko earned over UAH 1 million in 2008, while his family about UAH500,000.

Yushchenko has declared UAH3,014,181 in his bank accounts, with over UAH 2 million in the accounts of his family.

Comments

01:2007.11.09 UkrToday.[***]
- Under the current law the required deposit is 2.5 million hryvina (Approximately US$300.00) and is only refunded to the two highest polling candidates that progress into the second round of voting.
  
  The 7% threshold was in the previous version. The previous law also required 1.5 million signatures in order to nominate.
  
  Clearly Yushchenko is more concerned that he is about to lose 2.5 million hryvina. if he dopes not think he can win the election then he should withdraw.
  
  Under Ukraine to round first-past-the-post voting system minor candidates with below 15% of the vote are what is referred to as "spoiler candidates" as they take votes away from more serious candidates.
  
  If Yushchenko really wants to make a change in the system after nominations have closed then he should consider adopting a single round preferential ballot system. Half the costs and results known in days not months. One round only.
  
  Under a preferential voting system supporters of minor candidates are not disenfranchised as they have the opportunity to cast a vote for an alternative in order to their preference.
  
  It would be wrong to change the system/law now that nominations have closed. A lower deposit threshold may have been the deciding factor in a persons decision to run or not.
  Its a bit like changing the rules of the game to suit one side when the game is in play.