Elections on the horizon: what is being said on the sidelines of the Verkhovna Rada
17 September 08:20
The Verkhovna Rada is once again discussing the possibility of holding early parliamentary elections. The discussion has intensified amid statements about the end of the war in Ukraine and preparations for a new political cycle.
Parliament’s term ends: elections possible next year
MP from the Servant of the People party, Dmytro Chornyi, has expressed confidence that the current parliament’s term is coming to an end. According to him, the country may get a new parliament in the coming months.
“We are counting down the weeks. Of course, I may be wrong, but I have a feeling that this term of the Verkhovna Rada is coming to an end. We are working our last session, if not the last, then definitely the penultimate one. Next year, the country will probably have a new parliament. And this is closely intertwined with the issue of ending the war,” Chornyi wrote on Facebook.
He also called on President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to decide on the benchmarks and timing of the elections:
“That is why today we expect clear instructions and guidelines from President Zelensky. Because the time left to this Rada must be used efficiently and productively. Not for political squabbles, but exclusively for the benefit of the state. This is our last chance to act for the security and future of the country.”
The 2026 budget signals preparations for the elections
MP from the Voice party Yaroslav Zheleznyak drew attention to the figures of the state budget for 2026, which, in his opinion, may indicate that the authorities are preparing for the elections, although the draft budget does not yet provide for funding for the elections.
He noted that the government has a tradition of naming budgets – in different years, there were “Development Budget,” “Reconstruction Budget,” “Pandemic Budget,” “Resistance Budget,” and even “Victory Budget.”
“So, looking at the figures and text of the draft Budget for 2026, from the increase in social security to inadequate funding for the State Bureau of Investigation and the Marathon, I know what the name of the document will be this year: “BUDGET OF ELECTIONS,” the MP said.
He hinted that such funding is for the sake of maintaining the rating.
The war is coming to an end, which affects political consolidation
MP Fedir Venislavsky, a member of the Committee on National Security, Defense and Intelligence, said in a commentary to Radio NV that the war is gradually coming to an end.
“From the first days of the war, from the first hours of the war, let’s say, when it came to the defense and security sector, defense capability, there was a complete consolidation of the room. It’s just that now, when it is obvious that the war is coming to an end, someone recognizes it, someone does not, but in fact we are moving in this direction, certain political actions are already beginning in certain political forces,” Venislavsky said.
At the same time, he said, the parliament remains consolidated on decisions related to the military and adopts the necessary resolutions without any problems.
Elections by the end of the year are unrealistic, but possible next spring
In his turn, MP from the Servant of the People party, Georgiy Mazurashu, in an exclusive commentary
“In theory, this session cannot be the last one for this convocation of the parliament, because even if a miracle happens and the fighting in Ukraine stops in a few weeks (with fantastic provision of “reinforced concrete” security guarantees for Ukraine), it is not very realistic to hold parliamentary elections by the end of the year, to put it mildly,” the MP said.
At the same time, the MP noted that it is more likely that the current session is the penultimate one.
“But the probability that this is the penultimate session is higher. After all, the prospects of holding elections next spring, even under martial law, are being discussed on the sidelines. Although I do not consider this very likely,” Mazurashu added.
The politician also drew attention to the importance of ending the war for the possible holding of elections:
“In general, I advise everyone who is very concerned about the issue of holding elections as soon as possible to do everything possible and in everyone’s power to end the war as soon as possible. Starting with the most scarce – defending the homeland with arms in hand.”
Speaking about the work of the Parliament in the last weeks of his term, the MP emphasized the need to focus on the needs of voters:
“As for what the parliament should do in the final stretch of the convocation, it would be good to work in the way that the voters, in their obvious majority, expect and ask for.”
These statements by politicians reflect the growing tension in the parliament over the future political landscape of Ukraine. While there are no official decisions on the elections, discussions continue, and society is waiting for clear signals from the authorities. All this is happening against the backdrop of military realities, where the security and stability of the country remains a priority.
