Ukraine — does it need an election now?
“Democracy cannot be held hostage by Russia,” said Mihaylo Fedorov, who was, until recently, Ukraine’s defence minister. “We must find a legal, safe and realistic mechanism which will allow Ukraine […]
Seven years have passed since the last election in Ukraine, and some citizens are calling for a fresh vote. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who came to power seven years ago, is facing discontent, despite his high popularity ratings. The current president's defense minister, Mihaylo Fedorov, has been vocal about the need for a legal, safe, and realistic mechanism to renew Ukraine's democratic process. However, his efforts to mobilize citizens against him have not gained traction.
Corruption remains a significant issue in Ukraine, and there have been numerous arrests and trials involving government officials. Despite this, Zelenskyy seems to be free from any wrongdoing. The country's Corruption Perceptions Index ranks Ukraine at 104 out of 182, showing an improvement over time. Comparatively, Russia ranks much lower at 157.
In wartime, holding an election is not an unusual occurrence. New Zealand, South Africa, Australia, and Canada have all held elections during wartime. The argument that Zelenskyy lacks legitimacy due to the lack of an election is flawed, as Churchill faced similar criticism during World War II.
Written by urgent.news from Winnipeg Free Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.