Ukraine Defines the Ideal MP: What Changes the Parliament Should Deliver.

Roundtable Discussion: 'The Ideal People's Deputy'

According to TSN.ua: A roundtable titled 'The Ideal People's Deputy: An Electoral Portrait of Ukrainian Lawmakers,' hosted by Politaryna in partnership with Active Group, explored the essential traits an ideal deputy should possess in Ukraine. The event brought together current and former parliamentarians along with political analysts, who shared their perspectives on the state of the Ukrainian parliament and the expectations placed on its members. This discussion comes amid growing public scrutiny of parliamentary effectiveness and integrity.

Mykola Tomenko, a deputy who has served across multiple convocations, remarked that

'We have a Verkhovna Rada, but no parliament as an institution'

'the collapse of parliament as an institution began in 2014, and the current convocation is finishing it off,'

Portrait of the Ideal Deputy

Valentyn Nalyvaichenko highlighted a crisis of discipline and accountability among deputies, noting that 'today, we've reached the point where we demand that people's deputies simply show up to work.' In turn, Vitaliy Kulyk drew attention to the double standards of voters, which he believes also shape the electoral profile of deputies. Volodymyr Fesenko observed that a distrust of authority is embedded in Ukraine's political culture, further complicating the parliamentary landscape.

Participants also outlined the ideal deputy as a professional with a 'new face,' financially independent and not reliant on a high salary, a technocrat, a philanthropist, and a 'manager.' Alina Zahoruyko stressed that 'the ideal deputy is not born in parliament—they are born in the voting booth,' underscoring the critical role of active citizen participation in elections.

Valentyn Nalyvaichenko proposed several measures to improve parliamentary performance, including:

• anti-corruption cleansing of parliament,
• anti-collaboration checks,
• a mechanism for recalling deputies.

These initiatives could serve as vital steps toward restoring trust in the parliament and enhancing its functionality.

Overall, the roundtable served as a platform to address the pressing challenges facing the Ukrainian parliament and explore solutions. Participants emphasized the need for systemic overhauls to meet modern societal demands and rebuild confidence in elected officials.

The discussions underscored serious hurdles for the Ukrainian parliament, including issues of accountability, discipline, and voter engagement. The proposals put forward could lay the groundwork for reforms aimed at improving legislative operations and boosting public trust in lawmakers. This is especially relevant amid political instability and high societal expectations ahead of upcoming elections.