“Inappropriate”: Zelenskiy rejects presidential election over war

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Ukrainian Head of State Volodymyr Zelensky has clearly spoken out against initiatives to hold presidential elections in March, despite the ongoing Russian war of aggression. “I don’t think elections are appropriate now,” he said in his evening video message in Kiev on Monday.

The political division in the country, which has to overcome other challenges due to the Russian invasion, is not appropriate. The vote was expected to be canceled by the end of March 2024. However, recently there has been an increase in voices calling for political competition and elections.

Rather, the resources of the state and Ukrainians should be focused on “our victory” over Russia, Zelensky said. “And we all understand that now, in times of war, when there are many challenges, it is absolutely irresponsible to throw the subject of elections lightheartedly and playfully into society.”

As a result of martial law, the regular parliamentary elections that were scheduled to take place at the end of October according to the constitution had already been canceled. Recently, there has been speculation in the Ukrainian media about alleged changes in the law to allow presidential elections even in times of war. Martial law was declared across the country after the Russian army invaded the country more than 20 months ago. The current law only provides for elections after the end of the war. Zelensky has been in power since May 2019. (SDA)

Source: Blick