DOI: 10.46340/eppd.2025.12.3.5
Yuriy Maslov, D.Sc. in Political Science, Honored Economist of Ukraine
Odesa National University of Economics, Ukraine
How to cite: Maslov, Yu. (2025). Elimination of Political Dualism to Establish Parliamentary Democracy in Ukraine. Evropský politický a právní diskurz, 12, 3, 53-65. https://doi.org/10.46340/eppd.2025.12.3.5
Abstract
Ukraine’s political system, operating under a semi-presidential model, is marked by pronounced political dualism: the blurred division of powers between the president and the prime minister leads to persistent conflicts, fosters corruption, and contributes to political instability, the excessive concentration of power, and the lack of effective oversight and impeachment mechanisms, while the imbalance of constitutional provisions lead to frequent institutional crises and divisions among branches of government. A parliamentary democracy may represent the optimal form of governance for Ukraine, offering greater accountability, stability, and a reduction in corruption. A constitutional reform that limits presidential powers and designates the prime minister as the head of government accountable to parliament is essential for eliminating political dualism. Such changes will contribute to effective governance and the democratic development of Ukraine in the face of contemporary challenges. This article examines the issue of political dualism under the semi-presidential system in Ukraine and argues for the necessity of transitioning to a rationalized parliamentary system. It analyzes the historical stages of the development of Ukraine’s constitutional model, identifying its weaknesses, particularly the excessive concentration of executive powers in the hands of the President. The author conducts a comparative legal analysis of governance models in France, Germany, Slovenia, and Austria, and presents empirical data from the Worldwide Governance Indicators (WGI), which demonstrate the advantages of parliamentary republics in ensuring checks and balances, accountability, and institutional capacity. The article proposes three scenarios for the development of the form of government in Ukraine, identifying rationalized parliamentarism as the optimal model capable of ensuring both democratic oversight and effective public administration in the post-war period.
Keywords: parliamentary democracy, political dualism, constitutional reform, semi-presidential system, government accountability, parliamentary oversight, democratization, rationalized parliamentarism.
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