Central Election Commission: Elections are not held during wartime

07.11.2023

According to Ukraine’s legislation, elections are not held during wartime under martial law, the Central Election Commission’s deputy chair, Serhii Dubovyk, told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) on Nov. 7.

The Commission did not receive any information regarding possible preparations for presidential elections in the spring of 2024 and, based on Ukraine’s law, “also could not receive them,” Dubovyk said.

When asked whether the presidential powers would be automatically extended next year, the official said that the “Constitution clearly states that the President of Ukraine exercises his powers until the newly elected President of Ukraine takes office.”

With President Volodymyr Zelensky’s traditional five-year mandate span coming to an end next year, discussions arose about whether a new presidential vote would be held amid the ongoing Russian invasion.

Earlier, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that Zelensky is considering holding elections as scheduled in the spring of 2024.

“We are not closing this page. The president of Ukraine is considering and weighing the different pros and cons,” Kuleba said during an online appearance at the World Policy Conference.

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Read the article on Kyiv Independent.