“Now is not the time for elections,” says Volodymyr Zelensky

No voting in wartime. “Now is not the time for elections” in Ukraine, said Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday, November 6, 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 that this is not the case. ‘is not the time for elections’, he declared in his daily address.

The presidential election initially planned for 2024

“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 election in March 2024.

But faced with the current situation, Kiev has already repeatedly found itself faced with a dilemma, its Western allies pressing Ukraine to organize democratic elections even though nearly 20% of its territory is occupied by Russia and millions Ukrainians are refugees abroad.

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 the challenges are numerous, it is absolutely irresponsible to introduce the subject of elections in society in a light and cheerful way”, 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.