The Russian service of the BBC made a movie "Zelensky. A portrait against the backdrop of war". In the same film, the president of Ukraine assured that he was not going to rule Ukraine for 30 or 35 years, as Putin has been ruling the country. "Believe me," Zelensky asked journalists.
1. In 2019, Zelensky promised to run for president for only one term. Now, judging by Yermak's statements, Volodymyr Oleksandrovych is being pushed for a second term. So, Zelenskyy is ready to throw his 2019 election promise aside. What then will happen to the last promise, for example, after two presidential terms?
2. Zelensky has been in the presidency for 6 years and 2 months. Yes, there is a war in the country. Yes, it is impossible to hold elections. But the fact remains. Zelensky is the second president in Ukraine's history to lead the country for more than 5 years. Only Kuchma ruled longer. But he was twice elected president of Ukraine.
3. To publicly say to the leader of Ukraine that he will not lead the state for 30-35 years is, at the very least, disrespectful to the Constitution of Ukraine and to Ukrainian society.
We are a democratic state, not an authoritarian one. The Basic Law clearly defines a maximum of two presidential terms for any citizen of Ukraine. Period.
It is not Andriy Yermak or Dmytro Lytvyn who will determine whether Zelenskyy will be president for the second time. The choice is up to the Ukrainian people. We should not even talk about 30 or 35 years. The Constitution does not provide for this. And the guarantor of this very Constitution, which in Ukraine is currently President Zelensky, should know about this.
Sergiy Rudenko
