Photo: facebook.com/WlodzimierzCzarzasty
Poland has offered Ukraine assistance in organizing upcoming presidential or parliamentary elections, focusing on legal and logistical support.
The announcement was made by the Marshal of the Polish Sejm, Włodzimierz Czarzasty, during a press conference.
“We, together with Deputy Marshal Monika Wielichowska, proposed that at the time Ukraine decides to hold elections, whether presidential or parliamentary, we could provide support from our side,” Czarzasty said.
He clarified that the offer does not involve sending observers, but rather providing legal and logistical assistance. Czarzasty also noted that there are currently 2 million Ukrainians in Poland and more than 8 million across Europe. Given the “enormous task” of organizing elections under these circumstances, the Polish parliament decided to proactively offer help.
“The proposal was very warmly received, and we have created a working group to prepare a team and determine the full scope of support Poland can provide,” he added. He also noted that Marek Siwiec, head of the Sejm Chancellery, has already consulted the Polish National Electoral Commission on the matter.
Background on elections in Ukraine
Earlier in December, former U.S. President Donald Trump suggested Ukraine should hold presidential elections, claiming Ukrainian officials were using the war as a pretext to avoid voting and asserting that Ukraine was no longer a democracy due to the lack of elections.
In response, President Volodymyr Zelensky said he is ready to participate in elections, but stressed that two key conditions must be met: security and legislative changes. Zelensky later tasked lawmakers with drafting a bill that would allow elections to be held during martial law.
On December 18, Zelensky mentioned that Ukraine is exploring the option of electronic voting for Ukrainians abroad, currently limited to the presidential election, with parliamentary or local elections not yet under consideration.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed he could halt strikes deep inside Ukraine on election day, but demanded that the “5 to 10 million” Ukrainians living in Russia also be allowed to vote.
