{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/695e7828a32e86d77573ead2/6a9164211348fdc7618b1fde?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"CAN and SHOULD Ukraine have elections?","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/695e7828a32e86d77573ead2/1787906382130-b7f59960-78f4-4258-b8cd-7b8274855528.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p>Ukraine's ousted defence minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, has triggered a major political controversy by calling for presidential elections in a direct challenge to President Zelenskyy's leadership.</p><p><br></p><p>Accusing Zelenskyy's government of corruption, Fedorov has broken a major wartime political taboo by calling for elections to be held while Ukraine is at war, saying democracy cannot be 'held hostage by Russia'.</p><p><br></p><p>The term of Zelenskyy, who was elected back in 2019, technically ran out two years ago, but Ukraine's constitution currently postpones elections when the country is at war.</p><p><br></p><p>While some protestors back Fedorov's calls for a vote, many are concerned that they could be exploited by Russia, not least Zelenskyy himself, who said that they would split the country and cause a 'tsunami'.</p><p><br></p><p>Joining Enda Brady to discuss whether Ukraine should, or even can, have elections, are:</p><p><br></p><p>Olesia Horiainova</p><p>Deputy Head of Ukrainian Security and Cooperation Centre</p><p><br></p><p>Mary Dejevsky</p><p>Foreign Affairs Columnist at The Independent</p><p><br></p><p>Paul Ingram</p><p>Director of the Global Stability Network</p><p><br></p><p>Follow the podcast to keep up to date and access the back catalogue of Roundtable discussions at https://www.youtube.com/@RoundtableTRTWorld</p>","author_name":"TRT World"}