Ukrainian parliament's speaker says law on elections during wartime will be one-off
Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian parliament) Ruslan Stefanchuk has said that a special law regulating elections during martial law would be applied only once.
Source: a correspondent of Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne, citing Stefanchuk's remarks at an event marking Ukraine's Diplomatic Service Day
Details: Stefanchuk said he had signed an order to establish a working group to prepare draft legislation on holding elections during wartime. The group will be chaired by First Deputy Speaker Oleksandr Korniienko and will include representatives of all parliamentary factions and groups, civil society and the Central Election Commission.
He noted that the group's task is to develop a legal framework that will allow for the holding of safe and democratic elections whose results will be trusted both in Ukraine and internationally.
Quote: "This is a professional working group that will prepare a document making it possible to hold not just elections in Ukraine, but safe and democratic elections that will be trusted around the world."
Details: Stefanchuk added that the working group will examine all aspects of applying the Electoral Code in wartime conditions. In particular, this includes:
- voting rights for military personnel and their right to stand for election
- participation in elections by Ukrainians living abroad
- the organisation of elections in temporarily occupied territories
- the presence of international observers.
Stefanchuk stressed that the outcome of the group's work will be a separate law to be used on a one-off basis specifically for holding these elections.
Background:
- On 10 December, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed with representatives of the Verkhovna Rada the possibility of holding presidential elections in wartime Ukraine and is now waiting for MPs to "present their perspective".
- US President Donald Trump believes that Ukraine should hold a presidential election, as a long time has passed since the previous vote.
- The Ukrainian leader commented on Trump's remark that it is time for Ukraine to hold presidential elections and has said he is "always ready".
- He also said that international partners must ensure security during elections. Zelenskyy is prepared to support amendments to the law on elections during martial law and is waiting for proposals from parliament.
- On 18 December, Zelenskyy said that Ukrainian MPs had not yet presented proposals on changing election laws during martial law and that there was also no consensus on the possibility of holding elections online.
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