The Central Election Commission believes that there are no problems with the legitimacy of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after May 20. This is stated in the CEC's official response to a request from Glavkom journalists.
According to the commission, he should fulfill his powers until his successor takes office, and presidential elections should be scheduled no later than one month after the end of martial law.
"Under martial law, it is prohibited to hold national and local elections (Part 1 of Article 19 of the Law of Ukraine "On the Legal Regime of Martial Law")," the CEC said.
They claim that according to the Constitution, power must be uninterrupted, the president must fulfill his powers until his successor takes office, and there is no reason to believe that presidential functions can be transferred to the chairman of the Verkhovna Rada.
In particular, the CEC refers to the provisions of Articles 106 and 108 of the Constitution of Ukraine. The official response emphasizes that the topic of May 20 can be used by the enemy to incite hostility and undermine confidence in the government within the country.
"In conclusion, we emphasize that today, in the context of Ukraine's repulsion and deterrence of Russia's armed aggression, the enemy is using all possible mechanisms and methods, including in the information space, to worsen the situation and incite hostility within the country, undermining citizens' trust in the government," the statement reads.
