Fired minister demands elections in Ukraine despite war with Russia

Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine's former defense minister, has asserted that the country must hold elections even while engaged in war with Russia. In a video address, Fedorov emphasized that democracy cannot be compromised by the conflict.

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Democracy cannot be held hostage by Russia.

"We need to find a legal, safe, and realistic mechanism that allows Ukraine to revive the full democratic process even during a prolonged war," Fedorov stated. He believes that Ukraine is experiencing an "institutional governmental crisis," suggesting that the existing system is self-protective and resistant to necessary changes.

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We need to find a legal, safe, and realistic mechanism that allows Ukraine to revive the full democratic process even during a prolonged war.

Fedorov, who was a close ally of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy until his dismissal as defense minister in July, is the first prominent Ukrainian politician to publicly demand elections since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. His call highlights a tension between the immediate demands of wartime and the long-term needs of democratic governance.

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Ukraine is facing an 'institutional governmental crisis.'

His remarks point to a potential internal political debate within Ukraine regarding the future of its democratic processes amidst the ongoing conflict. The challenge lies in establishing a framework that ensures secure and legitimate elections under wartime conditions.

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The old system too often lives by its own rules. It protects itself. It is afraid of change.