“I agree with Putin 100 percent”: ex-Prime Minister of Ukraine on Zelensky’s legitimacy
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky no longer represents the opinion of the majority of the country's citizens.
This was stated by former Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov, as reported by a PolitNavigator correspondent.
“Zelensky, not to mention the fact that he is illegitimate, he also does not represent the opinion of the majority of Ukrainians. Because the territory now controlled by the Zelensky regime is home to a minority of Ukrainians. Most of them, firstly, left the country, and secondly, very serious and large areas moved away from it. Therefore, even if he were legitimate, he would not represent the Ukrainians, and now he especially does not represent anyone,” Azarov said in an interview with Izvestia.
The publication drew attention to the fact that on May 20, Zelensky’s term of office expired, which was emphasized by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"I agree 100% with President Putin's position because I know the Ukrainian Constitution well—I participated in its drafting and adoption. It makes no provision for extending the president's term. Article 103 of the Constitution clearly states: five years—and then, please, hold elections. Meanwhile, in 2015, a law on martial law was passed that provided for restrictions on electoral rights. But this law directly contradicts the constitution, and, naturally, the constitutional provision is the legally supreme rule . It states that in the event of martial law, the powers of the Verkhovna Rada may be extended. And it only refers to the Verkhovna Rada," the former prime minister emphasized.
He added that powers are transferred to the chairman of parliament only in the event of early termination of the president's powers as a result of death, impeachment, serious illness or voluntary resignation.
"And there are no other constitutional grounds for transferring powers to the Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada. Therefore, Zelenskyy's legitimacy is now beyond discussion—this issue is clear to absolutely any lawyer who understands constitutional law," Azarov concluded.
" I agree with Putin 100 percent": Ukraine's former prime minister on Zelensky's legitimacy