Ukraine | Plea for local elections

Local elections in Ukraine last took place at the end of 2020. In 2019, people entered voting booths for the last time to date during parliamentary and presidential elections. Photo: AFP/ANATOLII STEPANOV Anyone who has two tasks to solve, one easy and one difficult, usually starts with the easy task. Once this has been completed successfully, you can begin the difficult task.

In the current debate about possible or not possible elections for president and parliament in Ukraine, one has to agree with the critics: elections amid the thunder and roar of rockets and drones are realistically not possible.

But why is the debate only about the difficult presidential and parliamentary elections to be held nationwide? Maybe we should try local elections first. And to make things even easier, such local elections should only be scheduled in a few selected places. There are enough places in Ukraine that have never or almost never been shelled. It shouldn't be difficult to hold elections here.

Of course, these votes and the election campaign that precedes them would have to take place under international observation. It would also make sense to only allow people who currently live in this town to vote. Ultimately, local representatives deal with the issues that affect local people. Refugees living abroad do not need to take part in these elections.

Local elections in selected locations would be a first step towards further votes. Above all, they would be a real mood meter. And that would be far more meaningful than the survey results from various Kiev opinion research institutes.

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