Zelenskiy considers holding wartime elections in 2024

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is weighing the advantages and disadvantages of holding presidential elections in 2024, his foreign minister said on Friday, even though there are major concerns about holding a free and fair vote during the war with Russia.

Following the Russian invasion in February 2022, Ukraine declared martial law, banning elections.

But there have been some calls, including from US Senator Lindsey Graham, for the elections to continue even if the war does not end, as proof of the country’s democratic health.

“We are not closing this page. The president of Ukraine is considering and weighing different pros and cons,” Dmytro Kuleba said, adding that the elections will bring unprecedented challenges.

Ukraine was due to hold parliamentary elections in October and presidential elections in March 2024.

Kuleba made his comment during an online appearance at an event in the United Arab Emirates, when asked whether Ukraine would hold presidential elections next year.

He highlighted security risks and how to secure votes for hundreds of thousands of soldiers, millions of Ukrainians abroad and those living under Russian occupation.

Zelenskiy said elections could be held if necessary, but that Parliament would have to change the law and that foreign assistance would be needed to help finance and find a place for millions of people to vote abroad.

He said he wants to run for another term if there is an election. His approval rating remains very high, even if it has decreased slightly compared to the first year of the war.

Russia controls almost a fifth of Ukraine’s territory, and around 6 million Ukrainians currently live across Europe.

Source: Terra

Rose

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