Elections in time of war will tear country apart – Ukrainian parliament Chairman

Ruslan Stefanchuk, the chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine [the Ukrainian parliament – ed.] believes that it is impossible to hold elections under martial law and that this could lead to the rupture of the state, and that Ukraine does not know how to organise voting for almost seven million citizens outside the country.

Source: Stefanchuk in an interview with Ukrainska Pravda

Quote: "Ukrainian legislation stipulates it is impossible to hold any elections during martial law. And this makes sense.

Because we don't know how to organise voting for almost seven million people who are outside Ukraine. We do not know how to organise voting for [residents of] the regions that are temporarily occupied.

We don't know how to ensure proper representation, turnout of other citizens during martial law and whether election facilities will not be attacked. That is why I think it is a very wise decision to have the Ukrainian legislation stipulate that elections cannot be held during martial law.

If elections were possible during martial law, it could lead to the rupture of the state, which our enemy is waiting for. That is why I think the most correct and wise decision is to hold elections immediately after the end of martial law."

Details: Stefanchuk has said that the victory will raise a deeper question of "the future philosophy of Ukraine": "Because Russia will not go anywhere from our geographical border. But it is very important for us that the history we write overcomes geography. That is why it is very important for me that we start a discussion about the doctrine of Ukraine, about what Ukraine should be like tomorrow."

Quote: "I think that the philosophy of the Ukraine of the future is that it should be an eastern fortress of the civilised world. This should also be reflected in the rules of urban planning, so that every school, every kindergarten that is being built has the appropriate security features, and every settlement has certain security standards.

I don't like comparisons with Israel – we have a different situation. We are the eastern outpost of civilisation. "

Details: Stefanchuk has added that it is very important for Ukraine to receive the decision to join the EU and NATO.

He has also said that Ukraine should be offered fair accession rules. 

In his opinion, after the victory, Ukraine should become a newly discovered land, the America of the 21st century: "New ideas, new civilisations, new businesses should come here. Because the rebuilding of Ukraine should become a success story for the whole world."

Quote: "Winning the war is not the victory yet. To rebuild Ukraine, to receive reparations, and to have those at fault punished in international institutions under international law, which they despise, is a victory.

The trinity is as follows: victory on the battlefield, victory in international legal institutions and reparations for Ukraine."

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