Regional dimension of early elections to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine in 2019 (on the example of Ivano-Frankivsk region)

Abstract

Electoral processes are an important factor in the political transformations of Ukrainian society. A special role is played by regional features that determine the nature and preferences of electoral choice. The extraordinary elections of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine in 2019 marked the end of the election cycle. It was characterized by the dominant influence of the presidential campaign and its results on the course of the parliamentary elections. V. Zelensky's victory in the second round of the presidential election in Ivano-Frankivsk region with a result of 54.58 percent largely determined the peculiarities of the
election process for the election of people's deputies of Ukraine from the region. The declared rule of refusing to support former and current deputies by the party limited the number of candidates for nomination and deprived chances of many political heavy weights to win.

The influence of political parties, especially their central bodies, was dominant not only in the selection of candidates for deputies, but also a tall stages of the election campaign. General tactics, defining slogan sand election promises had to fit in to the overall party strategy. Various financial, administrative and media opportunities also determined the nature of the candidates' election campaign. The low level of trust in public authorities in general and the Verkhovna Rada in particular, disappointment in the effectiveness of the institution of elections have become the main factors of reduction of election activity of citizens through out the country. In Ivano- Frankivsk region, attendance of voters at the election was also affected by migration processes, the highest level of which occurs in summer period. The main motive for most citizens was the desire to see new faces in the parliament. There is a clear decline in support
for the so-called stagnant national democratic forces who stopped at the level of patriotic rhetoric, and in social practice they act in mercenary personal and group interests. This to so me extended plains the support of a political force that has no clear ideology, no positive experience, no organizational structure.