Elections during the war: Kornienko announces the first meeting of the working group
25 December 22:24
Ukraine is starting the practical stage of preparing legislative changes to allow for the organization and holding of elections during martial law. The first meeting of a special working group is scheduled for December 26 to develop relevant proposals. This was announced by the First Vice Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Oleksandr Kornienko in a commentary to the Interfax-Ukraine agency, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports
“The first online meeting of the working group on the preparation of elections and referendums during martial law and in the post-war period is scheduled for tomorrow at 13.00. Currently, about 60 people have already joined the working group. People without the status of a member of the working group will also be able to join, but with the opportunity to participate,” he said.
Who joined the working group
According to Kornienko, the first online meeting will bring together about 60 participants.
Kornienko noted that the work will involve a wide range of experts, including representatives of all parliamentary factions and groups (two people from each), about 10 representatives of leading civil society organizations, as well as officials of the executive branch and law enforcement agencies.
The Central Election Commission was represented by five members, headed by the Commission’s chairman.
There is also a possibility for experts to participate without formal membership in the group.
What will be discussed at the first meeting?
The program of the first meeting will consist of two key blocks:
- Organizational – defining the format, regulations and principles of the group’s work.
- Analytical – speeches by the CEC representatives with an overview of the main challenges related to the elections: during martial law and in the post-war period.
Members of the commission will present problematic issues and possible scenarios for their solution. Afterwards, the participants will discuss which legislative and organizational steps are realistic and safe in the current circumstances.
The meeting will be broadcast online on social media and YouTube.
“The CEC members will prepare an overview presentation, where they will raise all the problems that exist in both martial law and post-war elections… And then we will simply exchange views on which of these problems can be solved and how to move forward. So, we will work for about two hours,” he said, adding that the meeting will be broadcast online on social media and Youtube.
Elections during the war: what is known
The topic of elections in time of war remains extremely sensitive. Constitutional norms, security issues, voter access abroad and in the frontline territories – all this requires separate legal decisions.
Earlier, the head of the Servant of the People faction, David Arakhamia, said that a working group was being formed in the Verkhovna Rada to quickly work out the issue of the possible holding of presidential elections during martial law.
The launch of this group indicates a transition from political statements to professional discussion and preparation of real mechanisms that will meet both democratic standards and security requirements.
