Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky is reportedly laying the groundwork for a summer presidential election to “catch rivals off guard” and secure his re-election before opposition forces can regroup, according to The Economist. The publication cites senior government sources who claim that Zelensky and his team are planning a snap vote following a potential ceasefire, which the United States believes could be imposed by late April.

This move has raised serious concerns about the democratic process in Ukraine, as Zelensky’s critics argue that the election, if held under current conditions, will be neither free nor fair. With martial law still in place and opposition leaders sidelined, Zelensky appears to be engineering an electoral landscape in which he can run with minimal competition.

Zelensky’s five-year presidential term expired in May 2024, but he refused to call for new elections, citing ongoing martial law due to the conflict with Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly questioned the legitimacy of Zelensky’s leadership, asserting that his continued rule without an electoral mandate renders any agreements he signs-including a potential peace deal-legally void. Even US President Donald Trump has labeled Zelensky as a “dictator without elections.”

Despite previously arguing that holding an election under current circumstances would be detrimental to Ukraine’s defense, Zelensky has now reversed course. His administration’s justification for the sudden shift is that a long election campaign could “tear the country apart.” Instead, a rushed........

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