(Ken Silva, Headline USA) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reportedly told BBC last week that elections in the country won’t be held if martial law is still in effect, which is contingent upon whether the war with Russia is still ongoing.
Zelenskyy’s five-year term is set to end next year. But he was reportedly asked last week if parliamentary elections will be held this fall, to which he responded: “If we have martial law, we cannot have elections. The constitution prohibits any elections during martial law. If there is no martial law, then there will be.”
As noted by antiwar.com editor Dave DeCamp, Zelenskyy has consolidated power since declaring martial law last year—nationalizing the media and banning 11 opposition parties.
Ruslan Stefanchuk, the speaker of the Ukrainian parliament, also reportedly said this month that elections can’t happen in Ukraine under martial law.
“Ukrainian legislation stipulates it is impossible to hold any elections during martial law. And this makes sense,” he said.
On his latest show Tuesday, political commentator Tucker Carlson noted the irony that the U.S. is supporting Ukraine in its war against Russia in the name of democracy.
“We must make sure they can vote in Kiev so we can continue voting in Kansas City. It’s really that simple,” Carlson said sarcastically.
“And yet tonight, we regret to tell you we have a problem: It looks like they’re not going to be able to vote in Kiev anymore, and for once it’s not Putin’s fault.”
Ep. 7 Irony Alert: the war for democracy enables dictatorship. pic.twitter.com/tk7aOZ4H6n
— Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) June 28, 2023
Carlson added that “our chief ally in the war for democracy [Zelenskyy] … He just blew up our entire rationale for supporting his side of the war.”
Carlson then noted that President Joe Biden reaffirmed his support for Ukraine this week, despite Zelenskyy’s comments about suspending elections last week.
Indeed, Biden announced Tuesday yet another $500 million in aid for Zelenskyy, including new Bradley and Stryker armored vehicles and munitions for various weapons systems.
The provision of new Bradleys and Strykers comes after Ukraine lost armored vehicles in the first few weeks of its counteroffensive, according to DeCamp.
“The United States will continue to work with its Allies and partners to provide Ukraine with capabilities to meet its immediate battlefield needs and longer-term security assistance requirements,” the Biden administration said in a statement about the latest aid package.
Ken Silva is a staff writer at Headline USA. Follow him at twitter.com/jd_cashless.
