Zelenskyy's legitimacy is not in question — Germany
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Given that Ukrainian laws rule out holding elections in wartime, there are no doubts about the legitimacy of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on May 21.
Baerbock made the statement during a joint press briefing with her Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba in Kyiv.
She reiterated that Russia’s ongoing invasion makes holding elections in Ukraine impossible.
"Volodymyr Zelenskyy is the rightful and legitimate president of Ukraine; we will address the tasks ahead of us together," said Baerbock.
The German minister added that the constitutions of many countries, including Germany, explicitly prohibit holding elections during martial law.
“This is a very low game,” she commented on Russian propaganda stoking doubt regarding Zelenskyy’s legitimacy.
“Those who started this war and made elections impossible are now pushing a narrative about the supposed illegitimacy of the president.”
Read also: Zelenskyy's presidency legitimate until next president — Justice Ministry
In normal circumstances, Zelenskyy’s term in office would have expired on May 20—exactly five years after inauguration. However, the Ukrainian constitution clearly states that a sitting president remains in office until their successor is sworn in. Other Ukrainian laws rule out holding presidential or parliamentary elections during martial law.
Most recent polls suggest that approximately two-thirds of Ukrainians oppose holding presidential elections in wartime.
Although Zelenskyy's approval rating has dropped to 63% over the past year (down from 91% in February 2023), he still clearly enjoys the support of the majority of Ukrainian citizens.
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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
