Ukraine Local Elections 2015: Poroshenko mobilizes support for regional autonomy
Voters go to the polls in 28 Ukrainian cities including capital Kyiv
Ukrainian voters are casting their ballots in the second round of local elections across the country.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko was met with a nearly empty polling station in Kyiv.
This is a key election – under Ukraine’s decentralization reform, more power will be granted to local councils. The shift of power to local leadership will also see an increase in municipal budgets.
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Petro Poroshenko, Ukrainian President: “The process of decentralization which I initiated envisages that more power will be transferred to local heads and their councils. Today changes to the tax budget saw the distribution of financial resources to local councils; this is a much needed change in the country.”
The vote is a test of support for progress made at easing the country’s economic woes and bringing an end to the fighting in the east.