Zelenskyy Faces Pressure to Hold Elections. What Stands in the Way?
Ukraine’s former defense minister has called for a wartime election, in direct challenge to the sitting President. Elections have been suspended since 2022.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is facing pressure to hold elections amid the ongoing war with Russia, but numerous challenges stand in the way. Recently dismissed Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov called for a wartime presidential election, citing a need to restore a full democratic process. However, holding an election during war time would pose significant legal and logistical challenges, and may not be possible at all.
Ukraine has not held elections since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022 due to martial law. While Zelenskyy's term ended in May 2024, elections have been suspended.
Fedorov, an ally of Zelenskyy, criticized the current leadership, accusing them of a "systemic crisis of governance" and corruption. He demanded a safe and realistic mechanism for Ukraine to renew its democratic process during wartime. However, experts believe that the likelihood of an election taking place in Ukraine is very low.
Professor Konstantin Sonin from the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy states that very few countries have held elections in wartime, and it's unlikely that Ukraine would trust any guarantees from Russia. Additionally, there are practical limitations, such as counting votes from occupied territories, which make up 19% of Ukraine and may house up to 4.5 million adults.
The current poll shows Zelenskyy with 22% support, followed by Zaluzhnyi with 21%, Fedorov with 13%, and Kyrylo Budanov, the current chief of staff, with an unknown percentage. Even if Zelenskyy were to lose in the first round, a runoff election could still result in his defeat.
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