Zelensyy: Rada can decide date of presidential elections after peace agreement signed
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that at a certain point after the signing of the peace agreement or in the process of its implementation, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine will be able to vote on the date of the presidential elections in the country.
"That is, at a certain point after the signing of the agreement or in the process of its implementation, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine will be able to vote on the date of the elections of the President of Ukraine. For example, we signed it - and we can hold presidential elections. We do not see a problem in this," Zelenskyy said during a conversation with journalists on Tuesday.
According to the president, if it comes to the fact that "someone really wants elections in Ukraine and that this gives some hope that they can achieve through politics what they did not achieve through war, then they will push for it." "But this does not mean that the Ukrainian people will perceive it that way. Ukraine can hold elections and do it in the interests of Ukraine as a democratic country. There should be no doubts among partners in Ukraine - especially on the issue of elections," he emphasized.
In addition, according to the president, a special state is needed to hold elections. "Mobilization can be transformed or not done in conditions when there is an agreement and it is being implemented, or, perhaps, partially done and partially demobilized people. But the most important thing is not to lose the army for some time, not to lose positions. This is very dangerous," Zelenskyy said.
The president also added that local and parliamentary elections cannot be organized just like that, since there are constitutional restrictions on the parliament, and "as for local elections, this is a completely different scale of participation in elections, and not the right to vote, but the right to be elected." "That is, it has its own specifics, which is possible after the lifting of martial law restrictions. That is, let's imagine that we signed an agreement. We cannot abolish martial law, for example, for six months or several months. But the clause is written that as soon as we sign, we must hold elections as soon as possible," the head of state explained.
He added that presidential elections take place if there are security conditions, and there are conditions for democratic standards, and a period of 60 or 90 days, if it is provided that it will be held as soon as possible, then there is a shortened period.
"A ceasefire is also needed for the referendum. And when martial law is lifted, then both parliamentary and local elections can be held. They can be done together. This must also be determined by Ukrainian parliamentarians," Zelenskyy said.