this post was submitted on 07 Nov 2023
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Україна Ukraine

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President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected the idea of presidential elections in Ukraine next year, labeling the topic as “irresponsible” in his video address posted on Nov. 6.

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[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 year ago (2 children)

He makes a good point, elections are not a good idea right now.

Then again, that's how it often starts. A charismatic and popular leader not holding elections because it doesn't make sense at that point. And nobody is complaining because there are much more important issues and almost everyone supports the leader anyway. When the conflict eventually begins to settle, there are still no elections and people don't complain because they're much too busy rebuilding. When the issue of elections is finally brought up, the majority who still support the leader will point to his war-hero status and see it as an attack on themselves. There may be conflict, demonstrations but no elections. The years go by, younger people grow into adults who never voted in their lives. They only know one leader and never experienced a change of government. That's when democracy has died.

To prevent this scenario from happening, Zelensky should define a clear point at which elections will be held. For example, the first sunday 6 months after the last Russian troops are removed from Ukrainian territory. If that date comes and goes without elections happening, everyone knows what's up.

[–] hogunner 5 points 1 year ago

Hopefully he takes a page out of this part of George Washington’s playbook and stays President long enough post-war to set his country on the right track but bows out before his supporters make him emperor.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

This point is already clearly defined in the Ukrainian constitution and laws. Elections will be held in a few months after martial law is lifted. So far the martial law forbids elections.