Ukraine Should Hold a Presidential Election Now to Restore Legitimacy, Rebuild Trust, and Strengthen the War Effort
Source: Anonymous. "Iraq Held An Election In A War Zone. Why Hasn’t Ukraine?." October 28, 2026. thefederalist.com
The Gist
The author says Ukraine should hold its overdue presidential election now. He argues that Zelensky's government is corrupt, that people don't trust it enough to enlist, and that nothing in the constitution actually bans a wartime vote. Since Iraq managed an election during an insurgency, he thinks Ukraine can too, and that a fresh mandate would strengthen the war effort.
Conclusion
Ukraine must hold its overdue presidential election, which would serve as a referendum on the Zelensky government, because doing so is legally feasible and is the only way to restore public trust, revive military recruiting, and put Ukraine in a position to win the war.
Premises
- The Ukrainian government is deeply corrupt and intertwined with organized crime (e.g., kickbacks of 10-15% on Energoatom contracts, the scandal forcing the resignation of Zelensky's chief of staff, and Zelensky's attempt to take control of the anti-corruption bureau NABU).
- Ukrainians' lack of trust in the Zelensky government is undermining the war effort, as shown by disastrously low military recruiting.
- The Ukrainian constitution does not prohibit presidential elections during martial law; the postponement rests on a parliamentary statute that cannot legally amend the constitution, so Zelensky's extended term lacks a legal mandate and he is illegitimate.
- Elections have been successfully held in conflict zones as bad as or worse than Ukraine's, such as Iraq in 2005, which the UN certified as an immense success despite a bloody insurgency.
- Ukraine is better positioned than Iraq was, being a European nation with Western institutions and facing an external foe rather than internal insurgencies, so the remaining task is merely procedural.
- Moral legitimacy is a force multiplier in war, and a democratic mandate would motivate citizens to serve, whereas people are unwilling to risk their lives for a morally corrupt government.
Assumptions
- The author's reading of the Ukrainian constitution is correct and authoritative, despite the absence of a functioning constitutional court to adjudicate it.
- Low recruitment is caused primarily by distrust of and perceived illegitimacy of the government rather than by war weariness, casualties, demographics, or training and logistics problems.
- An election would be free and fair and would produce a government that Ukrainians trust more.
- Holding an election would not give Russia exploitable openings (disinformation, strikes on polling, disenfranchising displaced persons, soldiers, and occupied-territory residents).
- The Iraq 2005 election is a valid analogy for Ukraine despite differences in the nature of the conflict, the front lines, and the displacement of millions of voters.
- The author's personal anecdotes about corruption are representative of the Ukrainian government as a whole.
- The 'moral to material is three to one' maxim applies literally and is relevant to Ukraine's current circumstances.