Stefanchuk: Ukraine is preparing a special law for elections

Ruslan Stefanchuk. Photo: Ukrayinska Pravda

The Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada, Ruslan Stefanchuk, has said that the first elections after the end of martial law in Ukraine will have a unique format and will not fall under any of the types of elections defined by the Constitution — neither term elections nor early elections.

According to him, discussions on future electoral rules are already taking place between parliamentary committees, the Central Election Commission and the Conciliation Council. At the same time, these processes are not made public in order not to create the impression of a premature start to the election campaign, Ruslan Stefanchuk said in an interview with «RBC-Ukraine».

«It is very important for us that elections are held in Ukraine, but not «elections», as they are held in the Russian Federation,» he stressed.

The main challenges include organising voting for the military at the front, millions of Ukrainians abroad and residents of the temporarily occupied territories. Particular attention is paid to the issues of financing and engaging international observers.

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Ruslan Stefanchuk said that after the martial law is lifted, a special one-time law is planned to be adopted to allow for elections and a return to the standard electoral procedure in accordance with the Constitution.

«These will be unique elections that have never been held in Ukraine before. And they do not fall under any elections defined in the Constitution. Because these are not term elections and certainly not early elections,» said the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada.

There is also an ongoing discussion about which election campaign will be the first — presidential or parliamentary. At the same time, the Constitution, in his opinion, is unlikely to allow these elections to be held simultaneously.

As a reminder, in November 2023, representatives of parliamentary factions and groups signed a memorandum stating that elections can be held no earlier than 6 months after the end of the war and the lifting of martial law.

In general, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy believes that elections in Ukraine are very important, but they can only be held after the hot phase of the war is over and martial law is lifted.

Also, the vast majority of Ukrainians oppose holding elections in the event of a temporary ceasefire and support them only after the war is completely over.