Survey: As war grinds on, 69% of Ukrainians say Zelenskyy should keep leading for duration of war

The overwhelming majority of Ukrainians (69%) believe that Volodymyr Zelenskyy should remain in office until the end of martial law, according to a poll conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology in early February 2024.

15% of Ukrainians believe that elections should be held, of which 4% say martial law should be suspended. The remaining 11% of respondents favor amending the relevant laws and holding elections during martial law, according to the survey.

Read also: President Zelenskyy honors Maidan Revolution activists on 10th Anniversary

10% of respondents support the option that in May 2024, Zelenskyy will resign from office and the chairman of the Verkhovna Rada will perform his powers until a new president is elected, the KIIS writes.

Opinions on this issue are similar in all regions of Ukraine.

84% of Ukrainians believed in December 2023 that it was not the right time to hold elections and that this issue should be postponed.

Regardless of their views on the need for elections, more than half of Ukrainians (53%) believe that Zelenskyy should run in the next election. This number stood at 59% in December 2023.

The share of those who believe that Zelenskyy should limit himself to one current term has increased from 34% in December 2023 to 43% in February 2024, KIIS added.

Read also: Polish border blockade ‘a mockery’ – Zelenskyy

The survey was conducted on Feb. 5-10, 2024. A random sample of 1,202 respondents living in all regions of Ukraine (except for the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, residents of the temporarily occupied territories, and Ukrainians abroad) were interviewed by telephone using a computer.

The statistical error did not exceed 3.2% for indicators close to 50%, 2.7% for indicators close to 25%, 2.1% for indicators close to 10%, and 1.4% for indicators close to 5%.

U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham of the Republican Party said at the end of August 2023 that elections in Ukraine should be held even during a war. Zelenskyy replied that in this case, the United States and Europe should ensure the integrity of the elections by sending observers to Ukraine, including to the front line. Changes in legislation and funding are also needed.

Zelenskyy said that elections in Ukraine could be held in wartime, provided that the legislation is amended and voting is organized in a way that is safe and that all Ukrainians, both at home, at the front, and abroad, can participate in the process.

He said later that in his opinion, elections in Ukraine are "not yet timely" because it is a time of defense and battle, on which the fate of the state and Ukrainians depends.

The Ukrainian parliament denied on Nov. 3 that it was preparing for a presidential election during the war. The state budget for 2024 does not provide for spending on elections.

We’re bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine