Rus of Ukraine Elections 2021

2021 Rus of Ukraine Verkhovna Rada election

20–21 March 2021
All 650 seats to the Verkhovna Rada of Rus Ukraine 326 seats needed for a majority
Turnout	38,763,877 (89.73% 3.01 %)
First party Second party Third party   Leader Anatoly Kravchuk Dmytro Horvat Yulia Skorokhod Party Ukrainian Liberal Party Christian Democratic Party Labor Last election 144 seats, 22.08% 159 seats, 24.29% 93 seats, 14.22% Seats before 144 159 93 Seats won 191 149 75 Seat change 47 10 18 Popular vote 11,315,240 8,832,558 4,453,385 Percentage 29.26% 22.84% 11.51% Swing 7.18% 1.45% 2.71%   Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party   Leader Victoria Lukashev Anastasia Mezentseva Oleksandr Kostiuk Party Conservative National Independent Front Democratic-green union Last election 91 seats, 13.99% 26 seats, 4.05% 64 seats, 9.83% Seats before 91 26 64 Seats won 65 47 47 Seat change 26 21 17 Popular vote 3,879,630 2,825,189 2,776,100 Percentage 10.03% 7.30% 7.18% Swing 3.96% 3.25% 2.65   Seventh party Eighth party Ninth party   Leader Olena Kopanchuk Andriy Pavlovich Violeta Stratsev Party Honor Party United Left Party Independents Last election 28 seats, 4.43% 22 seats, 3.42% 23 seats, 3.62% Seats before 28 22 23 Seats won 33 16 27 Seat change 5 6 4 Popular vote 2,002,657 954,769 1,625,145 Percentage 5.18% 2.47% 4.20% Swing 0.75% 0.95% 0.58%
Post-election composition of the Verkhovna Rada
President of the Verkhovna Rada before election Olena Fidorova Christian-Democratic Party President of the Verkhovna Rada after election Anatoly Kravchuk Liberal

The 2021 Verkhovna Rada election took place from 20 to 21 March. It was the 26th election of the Verkhovna Rada of Rus of Ukraine since the Independence of Rus of Ukraine in 1919. The election was won by the Ukrainian Liberal Party and with the support of the Conservatives, the NIF and the independents, with the votes of Honors Party they managed to establish a government, with Anatoly Kravchuk as president.

Background

The elections of April 23 and 24, 2016 had the Christian Democratic Party led by Olena Fidorova as the winner. However, they had to put together a coalition government with the Labor party, Democratic-green Union and United left party. They reached a majority of votes of 338 for the investiture debate, which allowed the Christian democratic party to take power, although with various concessions to the other parties, especially the left-wing United party.

Olena Fidorova, the newly appointed Prime Minister, played a crucial role in mediating between the diverse interests of the coalition members. Her leadership style, characterized by diplomacy and inclusivity, was instrumental in keeping the coalition intact during the early days of governance. One of the first major legislative acts passed by the new government was a comprehensive healthcare reform bill, which aimed to provide universal healthcare coverage and reduce medical costs for citizens. This bill was seen as a significant victory for the Labor Party and the United Left Party. Despite initial successes, the coalition government encountered opposition from the conservative factions within the parliament, who criticized the increased government spending and perceived left-leaning policies. The Christian Democratic Party had to constantly negotiate and compromise to push through its agenda, leading to a slow but steady pace of legislative achievements.

By the time the 2021 elections approached, the Liberal Party had gained significant momentum. They campaigned on a platform of fiscal responsibility, transparency, and moderate social reforms, which resonated with a public weary of the coalition's internal conflicts and perceived inefficiencies. On election day, the Liberal Party emerged victorious, securing a clear majority in the parliament.

Electoral System

Elections are conducted by direct universal suffrage by proportional representation using either a list system or single transferable vote. The d'Hondt method of representation is used to seek greater participation of parties in the Verkhovna Rada. Each of the 25 regions and the two cities with special status of Rus of Ukraine have representatives of the different parties who are elected by semi-open or open lists (depending on the regulations of the regions) and through proportionality, they reach the Verkhovna Rada.

Candidates are placed on regional lists by their respective parties, and voters can either vote for a party list as a whole or for individual candidates within a list, depending on the system adopted by the region. This hybrid approach aims to balance party control with voter influence, ensuring that popular candidates can still secure seats even if their party does not dominate the list.

To be eligible for representation, parties must surpass a 2% electoral threshold at the national level, which helps to prevent fragmentation in the parliament and encourages the formation of broader coalitions. The allocation of seats within the Verkhovna Rada follows the d'Hondt method, which tends to favor larger parties but still allows for smaller parties to gain representation if they have sufficient support.

Election campaigns are regulated to ensure fairness, with strict rules on campaign financing, media access, and political advertising. The Central Election Commission oversees the electoral process, ensuring that it is conducted transparently and in accordance with the law. International observers are often invited to monitor elections, adding an extra layer of scrutiny to uphold the integrity of the electoral system.

Overall, the electoral system is designed to create a representative and inclusive legislative body, reflecting the diverse political landscape of Rus of Ukraine while maintaining stability and effective governance.

Lead Candidates

Overview of party candidates for Commission President in 2024

European political party			VR Group	Lead candidate(s)	Ideology
	ULP	Ukrainian Liberal Party	ALDE	Anatoly Kravchuk	Liberal
	CDP	Christian Democratic Party	S&D	Dmytro Horvat	Center-left
	LP	Labor party	S&D	Yulia Skorokhod	Left-wing
	CP	Conservative party	ALDE	Victoria Lukashev	Conservative; right-wing
	NIF	National Independent Front	ALDE	Anastasia Mezentseva	nationalist; center-right
	DGU	Democratic-green Union	S&D	Oleksandr Kostiuk	Progressive
	HP	Honor Party	IU	Olena Kopanchuk	right to extreme right
	United-LP	United Left Party	EL	Andriy Pavlovich	extreme left-wing
	IND	Independents		Violeta Stratsev

Ukrainian Liberal Party

The Ukrainian Liberal Party (ULP), affiliated with the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Ukraine Party (ALDE), champions liberal values including individual freedoms, market economy, and human rights. Led by Anatoly Kravchuk, the party focuses on economic reforms, reducing government intervention in the market, and fostering a business-friendly environment to drive economic growth and innovation. They advocate for modernizing Ukraine’s institutions to align with European standards and emphasize transparency and anti-corruption measures.

Christian Democratic Party

The Christian Democratic Party (CDP) of Rus of Ukraine is associated with the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D) and takes a center-left stance. Under the leadership of Dmytro Horvat, the CDP blends social justice with Christian democratic principles, focusing on social market economy, family values, and social welfare programs. The party aims to balance economic growth with social equity, ensuring that the benefits of progress are widely shared across society.

Labor party

The Labor Party (LP), also linked with the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D), is a left-wing political force in Rus Ukraine. Led by Yulia Skorokhod, the LP advocates for workers' rights, equitable distribution of wealth, and robust social safety nets. Their platform includes higher taxes on the wealthy, increased government spending on public services, and measures to reduce income inequality. They are strong proponents of labor unions and collective bargaining.

Conservative Party

The Conservative Party (CP) is affiliated with the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Ukraine (ALDE) and occupies a right-wing, conservative position. Victoria Lukashev leads the party, which emphasizes traditional values, national sovereignty, and a free-market economy. The CP advocates for lower taxes, deregulation, and a strong national defense, while promoting policies that support family values and conservative social norms.

National Independent Front

The National Independent Front (NIF) aligns with the ALDE and holds a nationalist, center-right stance. Under Anastasia Mezentseva’s leadership, the NIF focuses on preserving national identity, enhancing security, and promoting economic nationalism. They advocate for stricter immigration policies, protectionist trade measures, and policies that prioritize the interests of ethnic Ukrainians. The NIF also supports a robust military and law enforcement presence.

Democratic Green Union

The Democratic-Green Union (DGU), associated with the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D), is led by Oleksandr Kostiuk. The DGU is a progressive party that emphasizes environmental sustainability, social justice, and green energy initiatives. They advocate for policies aimed at combating climate change, promoting renewable energy, and ensuring environmental protection while also addressing social issues such as income inequality and human rights.

Honor Party

The Honor Party (HP), part of the Identity and Unity (IU) group, is positioned on the right to extreme right of the political spectrum. Led by Olena Kopanchuk, the HP focuses on nationalist and conservative policies, advocating for strict immigration controls, law and order, and traditional social values. They emphasize the importance of national sovereignty and cultural homogeneity, often adopting a populist and eurosceptic stance.

United Left Party

The United Left Party (ULP), affiliated with the Extreme Left (EL), is an extreme left-wing party led by Andriy Pavlovich. The ULP advocates for radical social and economic reforms, including the nationalization of key industries, wealth redistribution, and comprehensive social welfare programs. They emphasize workers' control over production, free education and healthcare, and policies aimed at dismantling capitalist structures.

Independents

The Independents (IND) represent a diverse group of unaffiliated politicians led by Violeta Stratsev. This group does not adhere to a single ideology or party line, instead focusing on pragmatic solutions to local and national issues. The IND prioritizes direct accountability to their constituents, advocating for policies that reflect the immediate needs and preferences of their electoral base rather than adhering to a strict ideological framework.

Opinion polling and seat projections

This article lists national polls for the Verkhovna Rada (VR) election as well as VR-wide seat projections and popular vote estimates.

Seat projections

Polling aggregator	Date updated	Number of seats	CDP	CP	DGU	HP	IND	LP	NIF	ULP	United-LP
Kyiv Polls	15 March 2021	650	153	82	55	26	22	93	36	162	21
Kyiv Independent	12 February 2021	650	163	74	64	28	23	88	27	159	24
European commision	12 March 2021	650	148	70	48	30	25	72	39	193	25
FlowChart	21 January 2021	650	159	88	50	25	30	76	32	164	26
PollingPro	1 March 2021	650	160	74	53	28	28	85	29	170	23

Results

Map of Rus of Ukraine showing the Verkhovna Rada parliamentary party leading in each Region.

Results by political party

Party (2021–2026)			Votes		Seats
			Votes	%	Seats	∆	%
	ULP	Ukrainan Liberal Party	11,315,240	29.26	191 / 650	+47	29.33
	CDP	Christian Democratic Party	8,832,558	22.84	149 / 650	-10	22.92
	LP	Labor Party	4,453,385	11.51	75 / 650	-18	11.54
	CP	Conservative party of Rus Ukraine	3,879,630	10.06	65 / 650	-26	10
	NIF	National Independent Front	2,825,189	7.30	47 / 650	+21	7.26
	DGU	Democratic Green Union	2,776,100	7.18	47 / 650	−17	7.26
	HP	Honor Party	2,002,657	5.18	33 / 650	+5	5.08
	United-LP	United Left Party	954,769	2.47	16 / 650	-6	2.46
	IND	Independents	1,625,145	4.20%	27 / 650	+4	4.15
Total			38,664,673	100.00	751		100.00
Vote totals given account only for lists which won seats and joined the corresponding group

Investiture debate

Investiture debate by party

Investiture ceremony by party

Candidate	Fecha	Vote	ULP	CDP	LP	CP	DGU	HP	NIF	United-LP	IND	Total
(Ukrainan Liberal Party)	March 25, 2021 Majority required:Absolute (434/650)	Yes	191			65		33	47		27	363
		No		149	75		47			16		287
		Abstentions
	March 26, 2021 Majority required:Simple (326/650)	Yes	191			65		33	47		27	363
		No		149	75		47			16		287
		Abstentions