Volodymyr Klitschko criticises Zelensky's election postponement amid war
Volodymyr Klitschko, a former boxer and the brother of Kyiv's mayor, criticised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for postponing presidential elections. "We need elections; otherwise, we will have the same conditions as in Russia," he stressed.
War in Ukraine: Key updates in our live report
In a discussion with the German service Focus.de, Klitschko commented on the removal of Gen. Valerii Zaluzhnyi as Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in February.
"If the supreme commander of the armed forces can be changed during a war, why can't the president be, right? We are in a war - everything is controlled from the centre: the courts, police, media. Yet, we are still a democracy," said the former athlete.
Klitschko believes the citizens should shape the government's directions, not the other way round. "We need elections; otherwise, we will end up like Russia," he reiterated.
He emphasised the importance of allowing military personnel on the front line to vote.
President Volodymyr Zelensky's term is supposed to end in 2024. But due to the continued state of war, the presidential elections have been deferred. This postponement also applies to the parliamentary elections, initially scheduled for October 2023.
"Zelensky’s big mistake"
Vitali Klitschko, the Mayor of Kyiv and Volodymyr's brother, also openly criticised the president. At the start of March, he labelled the dismissal of Gen. Zaluzhnyi "a significant error".
In an interview with "La Repubblica", Klitschko mentioned that Zaluzhnyi "successfully defended our country for two years against the largest and most formidable army globally, and we all see him as our key protector".
"The president ought to have justified the reason behind a decision that shocked all Ukrainians. Many are still in disbelief," added Klitschko.
"Regrettably, even in a state of war, when solidarity among all political factions and citizens is crucial for victory, the political struggle persists. (...) Some politicians place their ambitions above the state's welfare," noted the Mayor of Kyiv.
Klitschko also underscored that "creating opposition to President Zelensky would be a ‘big mistake’". "It would be a smart move for him to bring all political groups together. That's the key to winning," said the Mayor of Kyiv. He suggested forming a national unity government to achieve this goal.
Source: Focus/Espreso/PAP
