Tendencies in improving the constitutional and legal status of political parties in the context of international standarts and domestic realities

Introduction. The difficult conditions of martial law have become an indicator of the legal vulnerability of the party system in Ukraine. Improving the legal status of political parties based on international standards must take into account domestic political and legal realities. The aim of the article. The aim of this article is to provide an analysis of problematic aspects of the legal status of political parties in Ukraine that need to be addressed in order to improve the legal institutionalisation of political parties in Ukraine and to outline, on the basis of international standards, trends in the legal status of political parties development, taking into account the challenges currently facing our state and civil society. Results. The stages of development of the legal status of political parties in Ukraine are studied. Attention is drawn to the peculiarities of the dual nature of political parties, which raises questions about the content and scope of their legal status, as well as the extent of state control over their activities and, in general, state interference in their activities. It is emphasised that, given the dual nature of the legal status of political parties and their place and role among civil society institutions, a detailed definition of their constitutional and legal status is essential. Attention is drawn to the issue of the limits of legislative regulation of the internal organisational activities of political parties and ensuring intra-party democracy and the idea of the adoption of codes of ethics by political parties is positively assessed. It is emphasized the problem of legal certainty regarding the types of activities of political parties that can be classified as statutory and the need to define it in the legislation on political parties. Special attention is paid to the issues of the all-Ukrainian status of political parties and the principles of their regional representation. The factors that form the basis of the all-Ukrainian status of political parties are identified. The first factor is substantive (subject-specific), to a certain extent teleological, related to the need for political parties to have a nationwide programme of social development. It is emphasised that the all-Ukrainian status of a political party means its absolute connection with the state. The second factor is quantitative and territorial, embodied in the procedure for creating a political party. It is noted that simplifying the procedure for creating a political party requires ensuring a balance between party pragmatism and national interests. Issues of regional representation of political parties and existing problems regarding de facto regional parties in Ukraine are considered. It is emphasised that the policy of decentralisation of state power can stimulate the demand for regional (local) political parties. Conclusions. Modernisation of the legal status of political parties in Ukraine should address two key issues, which we have identified as areas for improvement in legislation on political parties in the context of international standards and domestic realities. The first relates to the necessity of taking into account the dual nature of political parties and ensuring a balance between their private and public status. Within this area, the importance of a detailed definition of the constitutional and legal status of political parties is substantiated, primarily in terms of defining in legislation the requirements regarding political party statutes, including their internal organisational activities, instruments for ensuring internal party democracy, and defining the types of statutory activities that can be financed from the state budget. he second area for improving legislation on political parties is related to the all-Ukrainian status of political parties and the principles of their regional representation. It is necessary to take into account the substantive (substantive and teleological) and quantitative-territorial factors that underlie the all-Ukrainian status of political parties. The issue of the activities of de facto regional (local) political parties in Ukraine requires discussion and settlement in legislation. In the context of the European integration of Ukraine, improving the legal status of political parties in general should be guided by the values shared by all Member States, which European political parties are obliged to adhere to and on which the European Union is based. Keywords: political party system, political parties, constitutional and legal status of political parties, associations of citizens, international standards for political party activities, internal organisational activities of political parties, all-Ukrainian status of political parties