“This is not the time for elections,” insists Volodymyr Zelensky

“Now is not the time for elections” in Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday, in the middle of a debate among the country’s leaders on the possible holding of the presidential election scheduled for 2024. “We must decide that this is the time for defense, for battle, on which the fate of the state and the people depends, and not for farce, which only Russia expects from Ukraine. I think now is not the time for elections“, he declared in his daily address. “We must come together, not divide, not disperse in quarrels or other priorities“, he urged again.

If Russia had not launched its invasion in February 2022, the legislative elections should have taken place in Ukraine in October of this year and the presidential elections in March 2024. But faced with the current situation, Kiev has already repeated that it finds itself facing a dilemma, its Western allies pressing Ukraine to organize democratic elections even though nearly 20% of its territory is occupied by Russia and millions of Ukrainians are refugees abroad.

“No room for conflict”

Another major obstacle: the law would have to be modified to allow the organization of ballots under martial law, currently in force. “There is no room for conflict», Volodymyr Zelensky justified Monday evening. “We all understand that today, in times of war, when there are many challenges, it is absolutely irresponsible to throw the topic of elections into society in a light and cheerful manner.“, further supported the Ukrainian president.

This announcement comes in the midst of a debate in the country on the possibility of organizing elections in times of war. “The Ukrainian president studies and weighs the pros and cons», Declared last Friday the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dmytro Kouleba, stressing that the elections would pose unprecedented challenges for the authorities.