Drobot Ihor, Doctor of Science in Public Administration, Professor, Professor of the Department of Public Governance, Institute of Administration, State Management and Professional Development of the Lviv Polytechnic National University, Lviv, Ukraine

ORCID ID: 0000-0002-4922-8968
e-mail: ihor.o.drobot@lpnu.ua

Bondaruk Serhii, graduate student of the Department of Public Governance, Institute of Administration, State Management and Professional Development of the Lviv Polytechnic National University, Lviv, Ukraine

ORCID ID: 0009-0003-8077-5606
e-mail: serhii.v.bondaruk@lpnu.ua

Electability as a Mechanism for Implementing Personnel Policy in Local Self-Government Bodies

Abstract. Introduction. The principle of electability in personnel policy is one of the key mechanisms that ensures the democratic nature of local self-government bodies (LSGBs). It enables citizens to influence the formation of local government institutions directly, thereby ensuring transparency, accountability and responsiveness to public needs. However, despite its advantages, the electability mechanism faces significant challenges, including the politicization of the electoral process, a lack of professional qualifications among elected officials and insufficient public oversight. These issues impact the efficiency and stability of municipal governance, emphasizing the necessity of researching ways to enhance the electability mechanism within LSGBs.

Purpose. This study aims to analyse the use of electability as a mechanism for implementing personnel policy in local self-government bodies (LSGBs), evaluating its impact on the efficiency of local governance. Particular attention is given to the advantages and disadvantages of the electoral approach in staffing local self-government institutions, the legal framework governing the process, and the role of electability in enhancing accountability. The study also seeks to identify the factors that influence the effectiveness of elected officials, and to develop recommendations for improving the electoral personnel selection process in LSGBs.

Results. The study examines the legislative framework governing electability in LSGBs, including the Constitution of Ukraine, the Law on Local Self-Government in Ukraine, and the Law on Local Elections. The analysis identifies the electability mechanism’s key benefits, such as increased citizen participation in governance, greater transparency, and opportunities for leadership renewal. However, the analysis also reveals several challenges, including the risk of political populism, the low professional competence of some elected officials, and the limited mechanisms available to evaluate their performance. The study therefore highlights the need to introduce competency-based assessment criteria for candidates, to strengthen professional requirements for elected positions and to implement systematic public monitoring mechanisms.

Conclusions. Electability as a mechanism of personnel policy in LSGBs plays a crucial role in shaping local governance, ensuring its democratic legitimacy and responsiveness to public demands. However, the effectiveness of this mechanism hinges on the quality of electoral processes and legal regulations, as well as the professional capacity of elected officials. To enhance the role of electability in municipal personnel policy, transparency in candidate selection must be increased, public oversight strengthened, and professional qualification standards introduced. Future research should focus on international best practice in electability within local governance, mechanisms for evaluating the effectiveness of elected officials and potential reforms to stabilise and improve the efficiency of local government leadership. The findings of this study can inform the development of policy recommendations to improve personnel management systems in LSGBs and strengthen democratic governance at the local level.

Keywords: electability; personnel policy; local self-government; professional competence; public control; regulatory and legal framework.

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