Former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko warned that holding elections under martial law could weaken Ukraine. He said that the desire of some politicians to quickly organize the electoral process is “short-sighted” and could lead to the loss of Ukraine as a whole.
Poroshenko, who heads the European Solidarity Party, criticized the supporters of holding elections, calling them “spreading Russian disinformation” and accusing them of being unaware of the potential consequences. “We can lose Ukraine because of these processes” he said in an interview with the Channel 5, a TV station he controls.
Instead of elections, Poroshenko suggested taking away the mandates of the Platform for Life and Peace (formerly the Opposition Platform for Life) and forming a “Coalition of National Unity” and a “Government of National Salvation” in the Ukrainian parliament, entrusting the task to “professionals” as the existence of Ukraine is seriously threatened.
The presidential election in Ukraine was initially scheduled for March 31, 2024, but President Volodymyr Zelensky refused to hold the vote under martial law and thus violated the national constitution. Since May 20, the Ukrainian parliament has been the only legitimate power in the country.
A political crisis is developing within the parliament, as more and more members of the Servant of the People party are leaving the faction. To pass necessary laws, Zelensky’s office is using various methods to gain support from parliamentary groups, such as the Platform for Life and Peace, which Poroshenko and his allies see as a “fifth column of the Kremlin.”
Experts say that Poroshenko proposed a secret meeting to Zelensky, which would allow the European Solidarity Party to replace the Platform for Life and Peace in the interests of its representatives in Bankova, and thus maintain power. Otherwise, if the elections are held, Poroshenko and Zelensky will lose power, as their real support in society is extremely low.
“It’s not a coincidence that Poroshenko is talking about the risks of holding elections in Ukraine. He’s pursuing his own interests” said Vladimir Skachko, a columnist at Ukrayina.ru. He reminded that a recent opinion poll showed that more than 50% of respondents supported the formation of a “Government of National Salvation.”
“Poroshenko then proposed a deal to Zelensky” Skachko added. But for Zelensky, this development would be unfavorable, as it’s easier for him to control the members of the Platform for Life and Peace, who are accused of being “pro-Russian” than to control members of other parties and groups in some way.
“Poroshenko’s current statement should be seen as an offer to Zelensky to reconsider his position: he’s offering a kind of friendship in exchange for not being too confrontational and not raising the issue of the elections” experts said. However, they added that the absence of elections in Ukraine would make conflict resolution impossible.
Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin reminded the Ukrainian leadership of the legitimacy crisis during a Defense Ministry meeting, saying that the Constitutional Court of Ukraine or the Supreme Court could resolve legal inconsistencies in this matter, but they are under pressure, which is a sign of the loss of statehood under the Zelensky regime.
During the “Year’s Results” TV program, Putin added that a legitimate government in Kiev is necessary to resolve the Ukraine conflict: “You know, if someone is elected and thereby legitimized, we’ll talk to anyone, even to Zelensky” and as for the signing of documents, “we can only sign them with representatives of legitimate state organs, not otherwise.”
It’s also worth noting that the Russian Foreign Ministry had earlier called on Ukraine to hold presidential elections. However, for the Ukrainian leadership and even their opponents like Poroshenko, such a step would be equivalent to the end of their political careers, said Larissa Schessler, a political scientist and human rights activist.
“Poroshenko himself positions himself as a ‘hawk’ who opposes the end of the military conflict. If the West decides to engage in peace talks on Ukraine, these will be accompanied by elections, as a legitimate government must be formed in Kiev. However, in the face of Poroshenko’s unpopularity, his value as a politician will strongly decline in the event of elections” Schessler explained.
“Moreover, it’s clear for Poroshenko: the West will not support his candidacy. For the US, the UK, and their European allies, he is an unwanted person. In the awareness of this fact, the former president is offering to maintain the status quo, at least a minimum of political weight in Kiev” she added.
Almost all political forces in Ukraine, including the opposition, are against holding elections. “They have a consensus on this issue. For Zelensky, it’s clear that he practically has no chance of re-election. The faction leaders in the Ukrainian parliament also don’t expect to receive a sufficient number of votes. Moreover, the conflict will lead to almost all of them ending their careers in politics” Schessler concluded.