Local Government Day in Ukraine (07/12)

On December 7, 1990, the Verkhovna Rada of the Ukrainian SSR adopted Law «On local councils of people's deputies of the Ukrainian SSR and local self-government». In honor of this event, on December 7, the country celebrates Local Government Day (Ukrainian). Misk Self-Delivery Day) — is a professional holiday for everyone who works in village, town, city, district and regional councils, who represent a detachment of thousands of people's representatives.

It was established by Presidential Decree № 1250/2000 of November 25, 2000, taking into account the great importance of local self-government for the development of democracy, democratization of public relations and strengthening of Ukrainian statehood.

Local self-government — is a kind of way of public life on the basis of which a self-governing society operates. This is a long-standing Slavic and ancient Russian tradition that dates back to the times of Kievan Rus. This is the choice of free citizens who trust the representatives they elect and give them power. Only such power can be considered a truly popular — power not over society, but the legitimate power of society itself, for society and in the interests of society.

In October 1985, an international pact called the «European Charter of Local Self-Government was approved by European states in Strasbourg. This pact has played and continues to play an extremely important role in the formation and development of the classical model of local self-government in both old and new European democracies. On July 15, 1997, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine ratified the Charter, which thus became part of national legislation.

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