Ukraine, a nation embroiled in war since the Russian invasion in February last year, has decided to hold elections only after the conflict ends. This decision was made at a meeting of the Ukrainian parliament in mid-November, as reported by the newspaper Ukrajinska Pravda. Originally scheduled for next year, the elections have been indefinitely postponed due to the ongoing martial law.
This delay raises concerns that the current president and government might maintain power without a democratic mandate from citizens for another decade, potentially leading to stronger authoritarian tendencies in the country. While postponing elections during a wartime conflict is not uncommon, the decision comes at a crucial time for Ukraine as it strives to strengthen its democracy and integrate into European and transatlantic structures.
Critics of the decision point to the risk of eroding democratic processes in a country that has been attempting to move away from Russian influence and solidify its democratic identity for several years. While the Ukrainian government emphasizes that postponing the elections is necessary to ensure national security and stability, opposition and some analysts express worries that this move could lead to a prolonged hold on power by the current leadership without proper democratic legitimization.