Ukraine plans legal changes to delay elections after martial law ends

Ukraine's government is planning to amend the country’s legislation to postpone parliamentary and presidential elections once martial law is lifted and the conflict ends.

The announcement was made by Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to the head of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's office, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

The head of Ukraine’s Central Election Commission (CEC), Oleh Didenko, recently stated that the authorities intend to introduce legal changes to delay the elections. Under current law, parliamentary and presidential elections must be called within a month of martial law being lifted. However, officials argue that more time will be needed to prepare for the electoral process.

Podolyak confirmed that legislative and regulatory preparations are underway for the post-war period, emphasising the need for amendments.

"As soon as martial law is lifted, elections must be held within 60 days. Mr Didenko is absolutely right in saying that a number of legal changes need to be made. This must be done through parliament, and given the complexity of the process, it will take time to clarify all legal parameters," he said.

Podolyak suggested that after the end of martial law, it could take between three and six months before a full electoral process can take place.

"The martial law period will end, and after that, it could take three to six months for proper elections and for the electoral process to be launched," he noted.

By Aghakazim Guliyev