Ukraine has proven that it can run credible elections, and Yanukovych
has pledged that parliamentary balloting will meet all international standards.
Still, the majority of Ukrainians are now saying they do not expect these
elections to live up to the President’s promises. It is too soon to render a
final judgment on the quality of the parliamentary voting process, but it is
not too late to make changes that could move Ukraine in a more democratic
direction.
In mid-September, I led a pre-election assessment mission, organized
by the National Democratic Institute, to analyze the electoral framework and
environment. The delegation found that Ukrainians lack confidence in their
political institutions, including elections. This attitude results in part from
the issue of selective prosecution of political opponents, including former
Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko. It also stems from the flawed local elections
in October 2010. In this context, political will and tremendous effort will be required
to regain public confidence. Government and election authorities will need to
go beyond the letter of the law and minimum international standards to regain
trust.
As a former Cabinet member under U.S. President George W. Bush and
two-term governor of New Jersey, a large and politically diverse U.S. state, I
understand the value of trust in electoral systems. It is the glue that maintains the
relationship of citizens to government.
Democracies are hard pressed to function without it.
The stakes for Ukraine are high: a genuine election would help unite
Ukrainians behind tackling the country’s problems, strengthen Ukraine’s
sovereignty, facilitate international cooperation on multiple levels, and enhance
the country’s standing as it prepares to chair the Organization for Security
and Cooperation in Europe.
What will it take to repair
Ukrainians’ trust?
First, citizens need to feel that they are choosing their new
parliament freely, without intimidation or bribery. The NDI delegation repeatedly heard of attempts
to buy votes with cash, food or services, in violation of the spirit and often
the letter of Ukrainian law. I believe
that this will continue to breed cynicism, just as intimidation of voters or
campaign staff will cause resentment and apathy. All parties must bear responsibility for
preventing such practices among their candidates and sympathizers. Authorities
must ensure that all allegations of voter bribing or intimidation are promptly
investigated, regardless of the parties involved.
Ukrainians need to be treated with respect as voters, and presented
with real choices rather than empty slogans or overly vague proposals. Given widespread cynicism and corruption, would-be
members of parliament must convince citizens that they will be accountable to
them, not to their donors. Candidates
should strive to contact voters directly and present specific proposals to
improve life in their communities.
Media coverage of the elections must be unbiased and uncensored. As recently as 2010, Ukraine boasted a robust,
pluralist media sector. The media
situation has deteriorated, as exemplified through the marginalization of one
of the few remaining opposition television channels, TVi. Authorities should
ensure that any allegation of harassment of journalists is fully investigated.
Television providers should be required during the election period to carry all
channels providing news and political information.
Finally, citizens must believe that their votes will determine who is
sworn into the new parliament. This requires transparent voting, counting and election
commission proceedings. The NDI delegation
noted that some parties with a significant stake in the electoral proceedings will
be excluded completely from election commissions, and that some commission
seats appear to have been sold or traded. The resulting imbalance means there will be
fewer checks on misconduct.
Election observers are therefore even more critical to deterring
fraud and promoting transparency. They
must be able to observe the entire election-day process. During the vote count,
everyone present – commission members, observers and the media – needs to see
each ballot as it is counted. To reduce the possibility of voter intimidation,
election authorities should redouble efforts to explain to citizens that the cameras
being installed in election precincts cannot and will not be used to violate
the secrecy of the ballot.
The NDI delegation made a series of recommendations in a Sept. 17
statement. I hope these will be given serious consideration. Ukrainians deserve
an election that inspires their confidence and a new parliament that reflects
their aspirations for a better future.
Christine Todd Whitman is the president of The Whitman Strategy
Group, a consulting firm that specializes in energy and environmental issues. The
former governor of New Jersey, who served from 1994 to 2001, Whitman served in
the Cabinet of President George W. Bush as administrator of the Environmental
Protection Agency from January 2001 until June 2003. She was the 50th Governor
of the State of New Jersey, serving as its first woman governor from 1994 until
2001. She is also co-chair of the Republican Leadership Council (RLC), with the
mission to support fiscally conservative, socially tolerant candidates.
The National Democratic Institute’s pre-election assessment delegation was made possible by funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development. The views expressed in this op-ed do not necessarily coincide with the views of the U.S. Agency for International Development or the United States Government.
