Secretary of State Antony Blinken made an unannounced visit to Ukraine on Tuesday and delivered a speech where he justified President Volodymyr Zelensky’s decision to postpone elections.
Presidential elections were due to be held in March, but they weren’t, and Zelensky will remain in office after his term ends on May 20. Ukrainian parliamentary elections were scheduled to be held last year in October, but they were also canceled.
Zelensky and other Ukrainian officials have justified the decision by pointing to Ukraine’s constitution, which prohibits elections during martial law. Martial law was first declared when Russia invaded and has been extended since. However, at one point, Zelensky made it clear that he could hold a vote if he wanted to.
Last year, Zelensky said that he could hold elections if the US and other Western countries paid for them and if Ukrainian legislators agreed to amend the constitution. He later ruled out the idea and there’s been no pressure from Ukraine’s Western backers to hold a vote despite the claims that the proxy war is a fight for democracy.
In a speech at the Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, Blinken said the US and Europe had been helping Ukraine build “democratic pillars,” including “free and fair elections,” but said a vote can only happen when the “conditions” are right.
“That’s why we’re working with the government and civil society groups to shore up Ukraine’s election infrastructure. That way, as soon as Ukrainians agree that conditions allow, all Ukrainians – all Ukrainians, including those displaced by Russia’s aggression – can exercise their right to vote. People in Ukraine and around the world can have confidence that the voting process is free, fair, secure,” Blinken said.
Gen. Valery Zaluzhny, Ukraine’s former commander-in-chief who was recently appointed ambassador to the UK, has long been rumored to be a potential presidential candidate in a future election, although he hasn’t announced his intention to run.
Earlier this year, a poll in Ukraine found Zelensky would lose to Zaluzhny in a presidential election. The poll found that 41% favored Zaluzhny in a first-round election, while only 23.7% would vote for Zelensky.
Defending Democracy by not having Democracy
‘Let’s cancel elections when we can’t control the result.’
Makes sense given how the same Blinken was a key architect of the rigged 2020 US Presidential election. Luckily, Moscow calls the shots now and doesn’t care what frauds like Blinken think.
And how was the 2020 US election rigged? No evidence but you jaggoffs “feel” like it was! Hahaha.
Bernie got screwed by the DNC,again.
When Graham spreads his BS the GOP leadership stands behind the scumbag.
But when late better than never Bernie speaks, not a single Democrat is even near him.
That tells a lot about our Democrats and the GOP. Both parties are you know what.
Write in candidates or no vote at all is the way to go.
The candidates they come up with are an insult to every thinking voter, disgusting. A Congress of blue and red shysters is all we have.
Right. Bernie.
That must have been easy, the Pandemic worked for Biden, he did not have to face voters, the DNC sold him. The establishment did not bother to pick a competent VP, just in case. An empty suit is easy to replace with another empty suit.
Hahahahaha.
Oops. Replied to the wrong post. Never mind.
All elections are rigged. Only two parties have a legitimate chance at winning. As far as the 2020 election, it was no different. It just so happened that more people were revolted by Trump then were revolted by Biden.
The pandemic worked for Biden, he did not have to campaign at all, the DNC sold the candidate to the voters. They knew about his dementia and incompetence and they were sure he could play the part.
Why doesn’t the US just FO.
That would require COMMON SENSE, which is not common.
After the wrecking is completed they will do just that, FO.
Biden is taking notes.
And you think that’s a Biden thing? Have you not been watching the MAGA-heads and their attempt to “cancel” the 2020 election? You idiots are all about projection!
Biden is an empty suit, not a real president.
Does Biden even remember who Zelensky is?
MAGA says what?
With a crayon, perhaps.
By now if Ukrainians citizens haven’t recognized a despotic government controlled from London and DC, then I don’t know what else will.
Last democratic elections in Ukraine happened in 2010, in USA – 2016.
In Russia – 2024
The last US democratic election was in the 19th century. There’s never been a democratic election in Russia, and probably not in Ukraine.
… but Old Hickory was a genocide and Blacks and Women had no vote.
Whatever we have, a Democracy it is not.
A plutocracy is closer to the truth. Money rules the world.
Before the 19th amendment. Before the 14th and 15th amendment? Democratic my foot and you know that you wrote nonsense because women were citizens from day one hence should have had that right to vote from day one.
Before the adoption of the “Australian” ballot in the 1890s, ending the era of every election being a write-in and giving government control of who you’re allowed to vote for.
But you’re correct on the grounds you state as well.
The form of government in Russia is up to the Russian people. They had a high voter turn-out and a big majority approving of their leader Putin. They did not give a damn for the Navalny shyster Biden picked for them to replace Putin. Demented shyster Biden has to eat crow.
Schadenfreude is a pleasure.
Clinton lost mostly because she was and is a shitty human being and lies as much as Obama and her philandering husband.
She is showing her colors, an evil human being she is.
She could have been worse than Trump.
Before 2016 election:
US election 2016: Trump says election ‘rigged at polling places’
After 2016 election:
“In addition to winning the Electoral College in a landslide, I won the popular vote if you deduct the millions of people who voted illegally,” said Trump.
Even the primaries were rigged:
“Ted Cruz didn’t win Iowa, he stole it. That is why all of the polls were so wrong and why he got far more votes than anticipated. Bad!” Trump wrote on Twitter at the time.
But wait, the 2012 election was rigged too:
On election night in 2012, when President Barack Obama was reelected, Trump said that the election was a “total sham” and a “travesty,” while also making the claim that the United States is “not a democracy” after Obama secured his victory.
Trump even wrote on Twitter, “We can’t let this happen. We should march on Washington and stop this travesty. Our nation is totally divided!”
Notice a trend? If Don wins, or if Don’s preferred choice wins, elections are fair.
I think Trump won elections 2020. They deprived him of his victory using every kind of dirty tricks because for the imperialistic elite he wasn’t exactly what they wanted. He wasn’t so enthusiastic about Ukrainian project as Biden and his team. They hoped in those four years they could destroy Russian economy, achieve the regime change and put their hands on Russian natural resources. They hoped, if they could achieve that, China is doomed and then they can get all the planet under their control. This their wet dream is so irresistible that they are ready to gamble with everything.
That would make sense if people actually gave a shit about foreign policy. They don’t.
its a war and from a legal pespective…
its ok
approval for zelenskyy and faith in ukraine winning the war is still amazingly high
none of ukraines neighbors, save for Moldova or Romania or Slovakia, have democratic eletions
It appears you’re easily amazed.
It is amazing that you have faith enough to trust any polls or elections in a country as corrupt and wrecked by war as Ukraine is. A high number of citizens who had the chance to leave Ukraine left Ukraine, and many people left behind are people who could not leave, it takes money and some place to go to.
it is amazing that you dont trust polls… if not polls than who do you trust? You head?
Antony Blinken also played the guitar with a band. So that Military Summary Channel on YouTube started the morning’s video with, “Today the most important news comes from Kiev,” about Blinken dealing a tough blow to the Russians, but the Russians are bravely fighting on.
As for Zalushny he has repeatedly said that he doesn’t want to run for president. And there’s nothing he could do anyway. Like Zelensky he rules out negotiating with Russia, and is just as gung-ho about invading Donbass and Crimea. The female candidate arrested for corruption in the past, I forget her name, is the only one who shows that she knows negotiations are needed.
Allegedly, Zaluzhnyi was negotiating with a Russian general for a peace deal. And then enter Nuland.
How many nightclubs are open in Gaza these days ?
What will Blinken Nod and Sullivan say then Russia goes all the way to the river leaving dead Ukrainians and leveled cities in their wake?
Stupid putz doesn’t get that “Rockin in the Free World” is a biting critique of Western society, including its war mongering.
We got a thousand points of light
For the homeless man
We got a kinder, gentler,
Machine gun hand
He’s at least far better at playing the guitar than doing diplomacy. If he played the guitar like he does diplomacy he would have stood on top of it trying to kick it to death.
Authoritarian approves authoritarianism. Shocking.
Of course, Blinker Justifies Zelensky’s Decision To Cancel Ukrainian Elections.
He is part of the Uni-party that has no respect for rules and laws in their myopic two tiered system of justice.
the Uni-party overthrows governments and steals elections including the 2020 American election.
America has become a world tyrant!
V. Zelensky has abolished most political parties in Ukraine. It’s no wonder that there is no need for an open election.
As to Blinken, let’s not forget that under Secretary of State Victoria Nuland has said publicly that the US has spent $5 billion to overthrow the elected Ukrainian government in 2014.
Anybody who still thinks that the US is waging a series of wars abroad to “save democracry“ should have a serious discussion with her or his psychiatrist.
American wars abroad are essentially dictated by domestic widespread political corruption and by the needs and requirements of the military-industrial complex (MIC).
Of course the propagandistic theme about making the world safe for freedom or democracy is just cynical nonsense. That’s not a serious thing, but the propaganda is. Those words, as they lose ever more real meaning in the West, still have consolidating power: many people know those things are good things and probably worth defending against threats. They hear those words ringing within the span of their attention and they are ready for priming. Programming done.
But that the actual threat to actual freedom and actual democracy is coming from within, and is being carried out in no small part by the very purveyors of this propaganda is alas a far more difficult concept to fathom. That’s a fight that seems already lost.
Guess Blinken can’t find a suitable replacement for the piano player.
On other front:
US to reimpose oil sanctions on Venezuela over election concerns
“ The Biden administration said it would not renew a license set to expire early on Thursday that had broadly eased Venezuela oil sanctions, moving to reimpose punitive measures in response to President Nicolas Maduro’s failure to meet his election commitments.”
https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/us-signals-venezuela-oil-sanctions-relief-risk-deadline-looms-2024-04-17/
The US is busy trying to fuck up the whole world. Nothing will change Biden said I believe.
I feel like Blinken must have channeled Kafka for this.
Two dumbest statements I have heard said out loud :
“We’d love to give you guys a wage raise but your Union won’t let us !”
“We’d love to hold elections but for the martial law we declared in part to prevent having to hold elections. We’d love to be constitutionally compliant but our constitution won’t let us !”
Yossarian lives.
It constantly amazes me how literate and educated the Anti War people as compared to those who love wars and Israels slaughter are.Obviously some serious reading has been done.
That’s Adolf Blinken, Y’all.
The neo-Nazis eliminated any opposition, they could not have an election if they wanted to, it is a one party so-called Democracy, just a joke, the US state department is running the show. Blinken the biggest POS beating even the ignorant and stupid Annalena Baerbock in Germany and Cameron of the UK, orders the clown what to do. But who gives Blinken the orders for the clown?
What trash we have called leaders.
Canceling or delaying Elections is a tactic of Fascists everywhere.