As Ukraine prepares to enter the festive season, it is also looking forward with some nervousness to the New Year of 2019, which has the potential to be a tumultuous one.
That’s mainly because the country’s presidential and parliamentary elections are to be held, at the end of March and October respectively. Their results will shape the country’s fate for the next five years.
It is to be hoped that both election campaigns involve vigorous debates that make each candidate’s standpoint on the issues facing the country clear – this is required for voters to make an informed choice.
But those debates must not become so vigorous that they descend into violence.
We have seen many times both in Ukraine and around the world that elections are often the source of violence. In fact, the United States Institute for Peace claims that about one in five elections held in the world turns violent.
But while researchers agree that prevention of election violence works, what usually happens is that societies are forced to react to it, rather than taking measures beforehand to prevent it.
The responsibility for ensuring elections are held in a peaceful and orderly manner lies of course with the police and the electoral authorities.
But those with the most responsibility are the ones running for office and organizing the campaigns, according to experts from the U.S. Institute for Peace. Ultimately, it is the attitudes and behavior of politicians that determines whether an election process is peaceful or not.
Politicians in Ukraine do not, however, always set the best example. Only on Dec. 20 tempers flared and fists flew on the floor of parliament, and brawls in the nation’s legislature are so frequent that they have become an unfortunate hallmark of Ukraine.
Politicians and party members may indeed hate each other, but they must bear in mind that their actions have consequences. If the nation sees its leaders come to blows, who could be surprised if more violence between their supporters follows?
This country has seen enough political violence already, and at a time of war with the Kremlin regime internal conflict is inexcusable. Violence at next year’s elections could cost lives, it could undermine faith in democratic institutions, and it could reverse years of gains that thousands of Ukrainians have already given their lives for.
So, if the Ukrainian elites agree to compete each other openly and publicly, but without descending into direct aggression, it will be Ukraine that wins in this next election year.
First, Ukraine can continue to build a robust and long-lasting democracy. Second, a vigorous but peaceful election campaign will foster economic stability and investor confidence. And third, orderly elections will earn Ukraine respect from its allies and adversaries alike, and put more of a shine on its tarnished international image.
And lastly, by conducting themselves in an orderly manner, Ukrainian politicians could win back the respect of ordinary citizens; something they have not had for a long time. All too often Ukrainian politicians seem to think that they deserve respect, forgetting that respect must always be earned.
With the help of the police, election authorities, and international observer missions, Ukrainian politicians can show next year, as they did in 2014, that Ukraine can hold peaceful, free and fair elections even in wartime.
And if they do, they will have shown the kind of leadership qualities that will be required to guide Ukraine successfully through what could be another five uncertain and difficult years.
